Two Regions, Many Ways of Life

Two Regions, Many Ways of Life

Long before European contact, many distinct Native nations lived in the regions that are now part of the United States. Their homes, foods, tools, and community practices were shaped partly by nearby land and water. The examples below focus on Ancestral Pueblo communities in the Southwest and Haudenosaunee nations in the Northeast. These examples do not describe every Native nation.

Ancestral Pueblo communities lived in the dry Southwest, including the area now called the Four Corners. Some communities built villages from stone and adobe. Some homes were built in cliff alcoves. Water was precious, so people used different methods, including irrigation in some places and careful water storage. They grew maize, beans, squash, and other plants. They also made pottery for cooking and storage and wove cotton into cloth. Pueblo peoples today are descendants of some of these communities, and each Pueblo nation has its own history and culture.

Haudenosaunee nations lived in woodlands of the eastern Great Lakes region, in what is now upstate New York. The region had forests, fertile soil, and many waterways. Some communities built longhouses with wooden frames and bark coverings. Several families could share one longhouse. Haudenosaunee farmers also grew maize, beans, and squash. People hunted deer, fished, gathered nuts and berries, and traveled on waterways in canoes. Haudenosaunee nations are living nations today, with distinct histories and cultures.

Both examples show people growing crops and storing food for later seasons. Both also used materials from their surroundings. However, the two regions offered different resources and presented different challenges. The Southwest's dry conditions influenced water use, homes, and pottery. The Northeast's forests and waterways supported longhouses, canoe travel, hunting, fishing, and gathering. Looking at both similarities and differences gives a fuller picture of Native life before European contact.