American Indian Culture Regions

Intro

• Imagine that you are an Alaskan Native. Describe what a day in your life would be like.

• Include:– Where you live– What you eat– What you wear

American Indians

are diverse!•When Europeans first arrived in America, they noticed that the Natives were very diverse•Different cultures were developed by Native peoples, based on their environment•Scholars group Native Americans who shared similar cultures into culture regions (or culture areas)

What is a culture region?

Culture Region: a geographic region which shares similar physical

terrains, natural resources, and cultural

characteristics

Three Characteristics of Culture Regions

1.Physical terrain2.Natural resources3.Culture

Physical TerrainClimate &

Landforms

Natural ResourcesPlant and animal life

Cultureeverything that

makes up the way of life of a people

• Shelter• Tools• Language• Clothing• Arts• Religion• Government

Map of American Indian culture

regions

10 Culture Regions1.Arctic

2.Subarctic3.Northwest

Coast4.Plateau5.Great Basin

6. California 7. Southwest8. Great Plains9. Northeast10. Southeast

ArcticPhysical Terrain

• Large, treeless plains, called tundra,

• Frozen and snow-covered

• Winters are long and severe

• Blizzards

Natural Resources• Little vegetation • Dogs, used for hunting and

hauling • Sea mammals major food

source (seals, sea lions, sea otters, walruses, and whales)

• Other game (polar bears, musk oxen, mountain sheep, wolves, wolverines, foxes, rabbits squirrels, and waterfowl.

SubarcticPhysical Terrain

• Mostly interior (except Hudson Bay & Pacific coast)

• Thick pine forests

• Thousands of lakes, ponds, swamps, rivers, and streams

• Long winters with deep snow and thick ice

• Short summers

Natural Resources• Caribou• Large game (moose, deer,

musk oxen, mountain sheep, bison)

• Small game (beaver, mink, otter, porcupine, rabbit, squirrel, and waterfowl)

• Seeds, berries, bark

Northwest CoastPhysical Terrain

• Narrow coastal region • Cool & damp climate with mild

wet winters and cool summers • Thick forests• Many rivers • Mountains • Evergreen forests

Natural Resources• Lots of food source: seals, sea

lions, and fish (salmon, halibut, herring, cod, and flounder)

• Hunted whales• Hunt deer, elk, bear, and

mountain goat • They learned to dry their meat

and fish with smoke

PlateauPhysical Terrain

• High plateau region, surrounded by desert & mountains

• RiversNatural Resources

• Small game• Wild plants (berries &

edible roots)• Fish (Salmon)• Large game in the

mountains (elk, deer, mountain sheep, bear)

Great Basin

Natural Resources• Sparse vegetation• Very little resources• Small game• Foragers

Physical Terrain• Very dry• Surrounded by

mountains, plateaus, & deserts

CaliforniaPhysical Terrain

• Mountain ranges & Pacific coastal regions

• Forest & deserts• Mild climate, with many

warm days• Varied rainfall

Natural Resources• Acorns from oak trees• Wild plants (berries,

nuts, seeds, roots)• Fish, seafood, small

game, birds, deer

SouthwestPhysical Terrain

• Mesas and canyons, Mountains, deserts

• Few rains Natural

Resources• Evergreens

(mountains), cactus

• Small game (rabbits, birds, and rattlesnakes)

Great PlainsPhysical Terrain

• Large inland region • Rolling, fertile tall-

grass prairies • Summers are

typically hot and dry, and winters are long and harsh.

Natural Resources• American bison

(buffalo)• Farmers• Berries

NortheastPhysical Terrain

• Temperate & humid climate • Hundreds of rivers, creating rich soil for agriculture.• Widespread forests*** Sometimes the area is grouped with the Southeast culture area and

referred to as the Eastern Woodlands.

Natural ResourcesAnimals (a variety of

game, large and small:

fish, deer, rabbit,squirrel, beaver, andvarious birds, such as

turkey, partridge, duck,

and goose; also hunted

moose, elk, and bear)

SoutheastPhysical Terrain

• Semitropical • Humid and well-

watered• Saltwater marshes,

grasses, rich soils, swamplands, rounded hills, high grass, and rolling mountains

Natural Resources

• Forests of pine trees

• Animals (deer, squirrel, birds, fish)

On your index card…

• Choose a culture region DON’T write it on the card!

• On the lined side– two animals,– two types of plant life, and – info about the climate

• Remember DO NOT write which region!

• Put your name on the back (blank side)

Musical Chairs

• When the music starts move around the room

• When it stops sit in the closest desk

• Look at the card on your desk.

• From what you know, what culture region does it belong in

• One region at a time you will have a chance to tape your card in the right culture region

• Artic• Subartic

• Northwest

Coast

• Plateau

• Great

Basin• California

• Southwest

• Great

Plains

• Northeast • Southeast

1.Arctic2.Subarctic3.Northwest

Coast4.Plateau5.Great Basin

6. California 7. Southwest8. Great Plains9. Northeast10. Southeast

Culture Region Project Assignments