Native Americans
Essential Questions
• What cultural regions did early Native
Americans live in?
• Which tribes lived in the different areas?
• What factors contribute to where Native
Americans settled?
• What are the features of the Environment of
the Culture regions?
Northwest Coast Region
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Cold winters, cool summers
heavy rainfall
thick fur
spruce and cedar forests
• Enjoyed seafood from the Pacific Ocean
• Built wooden houses with planked sides and
gabled roofs.
• Had painted and carved tree trunks called
totem poles. These poles honored their
many gods and spirits.
• Each village was ruled by a few rich
families. Wealth was measured by
possessions such as canoes, blankets and
slaves.
California Region
• Winter rains, hot dry summers
• coastal foothills, valleys, deserts, mountains
• oak trees with acorns
– Great Basin Area
– desert, low grasses, sagebrush
– small animals, such as rabbit and lizards
• Houses were thatched or made of earth
• Hunted, fished, and collected wild plants,
seeds and nuts.
• Acorns were ground to make flour and
mush.
• Life was more difficult for those living
away from the coast in the Great Basin area.
Plateau
• Cold winters, gentle summers
• large rivers
• abundant fish
Southwest
• Canyons, mountains, desert, mesas
• dry, hot climate
• Colorado River and Rio Grande
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Huge dry region
In the north are steep canyons
South is flat, desert country.
Early southwest Indians built cliff houses.
Cliff dwellers built on the sides of cliffs to
protect themselves from enemies.
• Later had many-storied houses made of
adobe. People entered by climbing ladders
to the roof. Ladders could then be taken up
to keep enemies out.
Great Plains
• Treeless grassland
• dense grasses
• more water and softer soil in eastern part of
the region.
• Before the arrival of Spanish explorers in
the 1500’s few lived in this region.
• Women grew crops of beans, corn, squash,
and tobacco.
• During the summer, men hunted deer, elk,
and sometimes buffalo. Buffalo were
difficult to hunt on foot. Natives tried to
stampeed herds over cliffs.
• Explorers came with both guns and horses.
When they returned to Spain, they left their
horses behind. Made hunting much easier.
• Other nearby tribes forced west by White
settlers came and adopted the plains wayof- life. Apache, Arapaho, Blackfeet,
Cheyenne, Commanche, and Sioux were
some of those moving to the plains.
• Communication was difficult so they
developed a system of sign language.
Eastern Woodlands
• Snowy winters, rainy summers
• thick forests
• many lakes
• Iroquois tribes controlled the Northeast
area.
• The Iroquois League was the most powerful
group. Had Iroquois Great Law of Peace.
• Enjoyed good fishing and hunted.
• Houses were domed-shaped wigwams
covered with bark. Some were long. A
number of related families would live
together in the long houses.
• Among first Natives to meet Europeans
Southeast
• Warm, humid summers, mild winters
• coastal plains, river valleys
• mountains, swamps
• Lived in thatched huts called chickees
which had raised floors and open sides.
• Many groups were warlike. Before battle
they painted themselves and held
ceremonies worshipping their many gods.
• In peace celebrations the peace pipe was
smoked.
Far North
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Cold climate
Few lived in this region
Short growing season made food scarce.
Fished, hunted caribou, moose, and deer.