America’s Modern Indians

American Indian Culture Regions

American Indian Culture Regions

• People who study American Indians divide them into culture regions.

• Cultures are grouped according to similar customs or lifestyles. For example, Indians in the plains region all shared a similar lifestyle centered around hunting buffalo.

Here Are The Major Culture Regions:

– Arctic– Subarctic– Northwest Coast– Plateau– Great Basin– Southwest

– California– Great Plains– Eastern

Woodlands– Southeast

Arctic and Subarctic

• Animal skin shelters and igloos.

• Hunted walruses, seals, whales.

• Clothing made from animal skins.

Northwest Coast

• Northwest indians thrived on sea animals and forest animals.

• Had houses made of wood planks.• Totem poles.• Held potlatches.

Plateau

• Hunted deer, elk, rabbit, birds.

• Gathered nuts and berries.

• Lived in earth houses and lodges.

Wanapum Mat House

Click on the image to see a larger view

Great Basin

• Lived in desert environment.

• Hunted rabbits, small game, and gathered roots and berries.

• Had few possessions and little clothing.

• Lived in brush huts called wicki-ups.

Paiute Wickiup

Southwest

• Some lived in cliff-top houses like their ancestors.

• Farmed corn, beans and squash.

• Navajos and Apaches were hunters

• Navajos lived in Hogans.

Click this picture to see a larger image.

Click this picture to see a larger image.

Navajo Hogan

California

• California Indians hunted small game and fished.

• Wore little clothing.• Acorns were basic source of food.

Great Plains

• Lifestyle centered around buffalo hunting.

• Migrated following buffalo herds.

• Lived in teepees.• Some farmed• After Columbus, Plains Indians

adopted horse. Click this picture to see a larger image.

Eastern Woodlands

• Farmed corn, beans and squash.• Hunted big game such as deer.• Lived in long houses (150 ft. X 20 ft.).• Complex government.

Click this picture to see an enlarged view

Southeast

• Farmed corn, beans, squash and sunflowers.

• Lived in platform houses with thatched roofs.