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Cultural Secrets of Native Americans: How These Ten Cultural Regions Shaped Their Identity.
Since Europeans first came into contact with the Americas in the late 15th century, classifications of Native Americans have been based primarily on cultural regions, geographic location, and linguistics. Archaeologists and anthropologists have fluidly defined the boundaries of these cultural areas, and these classifications are somewhat controversial, though somewhat consensual, within the academic community. In the face of forced migration, some ethnic groups have retained their original geographical divisions and continue their respective histories and traditions within these cultural areas.
In the United States and Canada in North America, scholars usually divide the indigenous peoples into ten geographical regions, each of which has common cultural characteristics, known as cultural regions. The definitions of these areas regulate the identity of the indigenous peoples and also reflect, to a certain extent, the cultural practices and lifestyles of those communities.
Major cultural areas
Arctic Region
This region includes Greenland and northern Canada, where Aboriginal people live in extreme climates and their cultures emphasize adaptability to the natural environment.
Subarctic Region
The culture of the subarctic region is mainly influenced by the cold climate. The indigenous people born in these areas are skilled in using animal and plant resources to survive and attach great importance to the inheritance of traditional skills.
Pacific Northwest Coast
Across the Pacific Northwest, abundant resources such as salmon and other marine life have fostered thriving societies and unique artistic and cultural traditions.
Great Plains Region
The native inhabitants of the Great Plains are usually divided into northern plains and southern plains groups. Their lifestyle is mainly based on hunting, and bison is the main source of food.
Eastern Woodlands
The tribal culture in this area is diverse and rich, many tribes no longer exist but their traditions and beliefs are still cherished by future generations.
Great Basin
The region encompasses numerous tribes, and many cultural characteristics vary depending on the geography, resulting in unique social structures and technological developments.
California Region
California's cultural region extends beyond the state border, with strong cultural interactions with tribes bordering Nevada and Oregon.
Southwest
The area known as "Oasisamerica" includes present-day Arizona, New Mexico and other places. The ethnic groups here mostly make a living from agriculture, forming a rich cultural development.
Central America and Mexico
The region encompasses the cultural overlap of Aristocratic America, Alaska America, and Mexico, groups that traditionally shared common cultural identities and maintained deep ties in political, economic, and social life.
Caribbean and Central America
The culture of the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean is defined by scholars as the Antiguan cultural area, which is also an important cultural hotspot in the Caribbean region, where ethnic groups display their rich languages and beliefs.
Gene and language classification
The range of indigenous languages in the Americas is wide, including several language families and many individual languages. According to UNESCO, most North American Aboriginal languages are endangered. How can the remaining groups reconnect with their past linguistically?
ConclusionThe division of these cultural regions helps us understand the diverse and complex identities of Native American peoples. Each region has shaped its identity and values within a specific geographical, social and cultural context. A deep understanding of these indigenous peoples not only helps us understand their history, but also triggers contemporary reflection on the preservation of cultural heritage. How does Native American identity continue to evolve in today’s globalized context?
