1.3 | Regional Diversity Among North American Indigenous Societies

Not all Indigenous groups lived in massive cities like the Aztecs or Inca. Many had diverse lifestyles based on geography, climate, and available resources.

1. Great Plains (Midwest U.S.)

• Nomadic hunters relied on bison (buffalo) for food, clothing, and shelter.

• Used teepees for easy mobility.

• After Europeans arrived, they adopted horses (brought by the Spanish), which transformed their way of life.

2. Southwest (Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado)

• Pueblo peoples (Hopi, Zuni, Acoma, Taos) built adobe houses and complex irrigation systems.

• The Ancestral Puebloans (Anasazi) built cliff dwellings like Mesa Verde.

3. Northeast & Great Lakes (New York, Pennsylvania, Canada)

• Iroquois Confederacy (Haudenosaunee) developed a powerful democratic alliance.

• Algonquian-speaking tribes (Pequot, Wampanoag, Shawnee) relied on farming, fishing, and seasonal hunting.

4. Southeast (Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi)

• Mississippian culture built mound cities like Cahokia.

• Grew corn, beans, and squash ("Three Sisters" agriculture).

5. Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington, Alaska)

• Lived in permanent villages, relied on fishing (salmon).

• Built totem poles to record history and social status.

Big Idea:

Native American societies weren’t one single culture—they were diverse, adapted to their environment, and had unique traditions long before Europeans arrived.