Native American Culture

They Were Here First! Experts believe that the first people to come to North America may have come across a frozen bridge of land that once connected Asia and Alaska. These people were called the Paleo-Indians. Native Americans spread out and settled in many different environments.

Arctic Indians The Inuit Region: Arctic Lived in present day Alaska and northern Canada. Climate: Freezing

Northwest Indians Kwakiutl Region: Northwest Coast Lived on the Pacific Northwest coast. Climate: Rainy and Mild

Plateau Indians Nez Perce Region: Plateau Lived in high country between the Rocky Mountains and Cascade Mountains in Washington Climate:

Southwest Indians Hopi Region: Southwest Lived in the hot, dry desert in present-day Arizona Climate: Hot and Dry

Plains Indians Pawnee Region: Plains Climate: Dry Lived in the middle of the United States in the Great Plains were there are few trees and lots of grassland. Climate: Dry

Southeastern Indians Seminole Region: Southeast Lived in present day Florida Climate: Warm and wet

Where We Live Determines How We Live The land and the climate affect how the Native Americans met their basic needs. Basic needs are things people must have to survive such as: Food Clothing Shelter The Indians met their needs by using things in their environment.

Arctic Indians The Inuit Food: Fished Hunted Shelter Igloos: Made from blocks of ice

Igloo

Northwest Indians Kwakiutl Food: Fished Hunted, Gathered roots and berries. Shelter: Plank Houses Used timber from cedar trees

Plateau Indians Nez Perce Food: Fished Hunted Gathered roots and berries Shelter: Earth Lodges Earth and plant materials for summer and winter houses

Southwest Indians Hopi Food: Mainly Farmers Shelter: Pueblos Made from adobe or dry clay and stone.

Pueblo

Plains Indians Pawnee Shelter: Food: Hunted Farmed Tepees Made from Buffalo Hide

Tepee

Southeastern Indians Seminole Food: Farmed Hunted Fished Gathered food Shelter: Chickees Used palmetto trees

Chickees

What did they wear? The Native Americans used things in their environment to make clothing.

Arctic Indians The Inuit Clothing: Used skin from seals, hides, and fur. Seal skin resisted water so they could wear it when they went into the icy ocean!

Northwest Indians Kwakiutl Clothing Used plant materials, hides, and fur.

Plateau Indians Nez Perce Clothing Used plant materials, hides, and fur.

Southwest Indians Hopi Clothing: Grew cotton and made clothing form it.

Plains Indians Pawnee Clothing: The Pawnee used buffalo hides.

Southeastern Indians Seminole Clothing Used plant materials and hide.