Books in American Indian Nations series

Long before Europeans came to the harsh landscape of the Great Basin, many nations of American Indians lived in the region. They had their own languages and cultures, and they knew how to survive in an area with extreme weather and little food. • The Shoshone made powerful bows that could shoot an arrow through a bison. • The Paiute created duck decoys from reeds to help them hunt birds. • The Washoe weaved baskets from reeds and willow. The Great Basin is still home to many twenty-first century American Indians. They continue to weave baskets, hold traditional celebrations, and speak their native languages. Learn more about the past and present of the native peoples of the Great Basin.

When Spanish explorers came to the Southwest region of the United States in the 1600s, they found over 20,000 American Indians already living in the region. These American Indians were part of many different nations. They had their own languages and cultures, and they had developed ways to survive in the desert landscape. • Pueblo people lived in permanent villages made of adobe brick. • The Hopi had fifty different ways to cook and eat corn. • The Navajo created colorful pictures from sand, cornmeal, and pollen. Many American Indians still live in the Southwest. They make traditional jewelry, use their native languages, and run tourism programs at the Grand Canyon. Find out more about the history and culture of the native peoples of the Southwest.

Who were the first people to call the southeastern United States home? Long before Europeans came to the region, American Indian nations lived off the rich and varied land. These peoples had different languages, governments, and cultures. Their traditions and heritage were shaped by the climate and terrain of the American Southeast. • The Caddo traveled in canoes made from the wood of cypress trees. • The Seminole wove baskets from sweetgrass and dyed them with berries, nuts, and roots. • The Cherokee danced with rattles made of turtle shell strapped to their legs in what is called a stomp dance. Twenty-first century American Indians still call the Southeast home. Find out what these groups have in common and what makes each nation unique.

When explorers and traders moved west across the United States in the 1800s, they found many nations of American Indians already living in the Plateau region near the Columbia River. These nations had their own languages and governments, and they were experts at living in this land surrounded by mountains and filled with rivers. • The Nez Perce could catch salmon with their bare hands. • The Modoc wore woven skullcap basket hats. • The Kootenai made paintings on huge rocks and cliffs using red ocher and fish eggs. Many Plateau Indians still live in this region. They work in a variety of industries, from fishing and logging to hospitality. Read more about the history and culture of the native peoples of the Plateau.

Long before Europeans came to the harsh landscape of the Great Basin, many nations of American Indians lived in the region. They had their own languages and cultures, and they knew how to survive in an area with extreme weather and little food. • The Shoshone made powerful bows that could shoot an arrow through a bison. • The Paiute created duck decoys from reeds to help them hunt birds. • The Washoe weaved baskets from reeds and willow. The Great Basin is still home to many twenty-first century American Indians. They continue to weave baskets, hold traditional celebrations, and speak their native languages. Learn more about the past and present of the native peoples of the Great Basin.

California is a land of varied landscapes, climates, and cultures. Before Europeans arrived in North America, more than twenty independent American Indian groups lived in this region. Their cultures were as diverse as the areas they called home. Along the coast, in the mountains, and in the desert, these nations developed ways of life shaped by their surroundings. • Every fall, the Miwok gathered acorns for food. They held a special festival to celebrate the harvest. • The Cahuilla held bird song ceremonies that lasted for days. Birds are said to tell the people's history through their singing. • The Yurok used mollusk shells called dentalia as money. Many twenty-first century American Indians still call California home. Find out what these nations have in common and what makes each of them unique.