The Native Americans were the first people to live in our country. They have been living here for over 20,000 years! There are over 500 different Native American tribes, and the important thing to remember is that each tribe is different. They all lived and worked differently depending on the climate (weather) and natural resources that were in their area.
The United States is divided up into six different regions of Native Americans:
- Northeast Woodlands
- Southeast Woodlands
- Plains
- Desert Southwest
- Mountains
- Pacific Coastal
Today, there are about 2 million Native Americans living in the United States. Most of them live on reservations, which are like small communities that are just for Native Americans. Each tribe has its own government and some Native Americans are tribal leaders. Others are doctors, lawyers, teachers, office workers, artists, and workers of all different kinds, just like your grown ups. They don’t live in wigwams or tepees; they live in houses just like you do. Native American children go to school just like you do, and sometimes they also go to a special school to learn more about their tribe’s traditions.
Click on one of the links below to learn more about that region of Native Americans and how they lived long ago. |