Southwest Region Project

Location The southwest region is located in the desert lands found in Eastern Utah, Northern Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. 

The tribes There were many tribes in the southwest region which include Pueblo, Anasazi, Hopi, Navajo, Apache, Paiute, Shoshoni, Ute, Acoma, Zuni, Tohono, O’otam, Yaqui, Huichol, Coahuiltec, Comanche, Havasupai, Jemez, Kiowa, Lipan, Maricopa, Mohave, Papago, Panamint, Pecos, Pima, Sobaipuri, Tewa, Walapai, Yavapai, Yuma, Mogollon, Hohokam, the Blackfoot, and many others that are unmentioned. The 3 most significant tribes were the Pueblo, Navajo, and Apache. They are the most know tribes so there is information on them, unlike some of the other tribes. They also are the main groups, some of these tribes are subdivisions of another tribe. Subdivision- different groups all linked to the same thing.

What Geography Influenced the Tribes’ Shelters? As you know, the southwest region is basically a giant desert. The Navajo knew the sun rose in the east so they always faced their house east to supposedly welcome the sun. The Pueblo built houses with thick walls to keep the heat in during winter, and the heat out during summer. The Apache built their homes with animal hides in the winter to keep the homes warm.

What did the Tribes eat? The Navajo, Pueblo, and Apache eat almost the same things. The Navajo ate corn, beans, squash, deer, antelope, small game, nuts, fruits, and herbs. Corn was their main food source. The Pueblo ate corn, beans, squash, deer, antelope, and small game. Corn and beans were their main food source. The Apache ate buffalo, deer, antelope, small game, corn, nuts, seeds, and fruits. Deer was their main food source. Small game-  squirrels, rabbits, hares, ruffed grouse, and furbearers (like raccoons).

What did the Tribes Live In? The Pueblo lived in homes called adobe homes. Adobe homes are made of mud and straw mixed together to form a strong, brick-like material. They used wooden posts as supports for the house. The Navajo lived in dome- shaped homes called hogans. You made a hogan by putting sticks as your supports and covering them in leaves, mud, and sticks. The Apache lived in houses called wickiups, which were made from tree saplings and covered in grass or bark.

What was the Tribes Trading like? We don’t know the tribes’ most profitable export and most desired imports but what we do know is that their exports were Turquoise, Bison pelts, corn, and pumpkins. However, our group can make the assumption that they probably traded for livestock, meat, or water because they weren’t common to see in the desert.

What Tribes Flourished, and Which Didn’t? We know the Pueblos flourished because there are still abundant amounts of people who claim to be part of that tribe. This is the same for the Navajo and Apache. There is no relevant information on whether the other tribes flourished or not, but we can infer that they didn’t flourish because if they did there would probably be more information on them.

How Could the Tribes Have a Better Way of Life? Since the tribes lived in the desert, it was hard for them to do lots of things. They could have had a better way of life if they had more water. This would make farming immensely easier. They could have also had more livestock. This would make it easier to make clothes and have more food to eat, which also could have helped the survival of this tribe.

Fun Facts! ~The southwest region is the smallest region, but with the largest states ~Arizona, New Mexico, the southern portion of Colorado, and northern Mexico are what make up the southwest region ~Temperatures of up to 125° degrees have been recorded in the southwest region

Sources www.ducksters.com navajocodetalkers.org www.texasbeyondhistory.net nativeamericanadventures.weebly.com www.bigorrin.org