Social Organization
This Eastern Woodlands group formed an alliance of nations known as a "Confederacy"
Haudenosaunee Confederacy
This portable, cone-shaped dwelling was essential for Plains groups following the buffalo.
Tipi
Northwest Coast nations held these important ceremonies to celebrate events and share wealth.
Potlatch
This region is characterized by treeless tundra, permanent ice, and a rich population of marine animals.
Arctic
These large cedar carvings on the Northwest Coast represent family histories and stories.
Totem poles
In the Arctic and Subarctic, these community members were highly respected for their survival skills and wisdom.
Elders
The Haudenosaunee of the Eastern Woodlands lived in these large, permanent wooden structures.
Longhouses
This is the belief, held by the Inuit, that all living and non-living things possess spirits.
Animism
This area is defined by coastal mountains, temperate rainforests, and heavy rainfall along the Pacific.
Northwest Coast
This unique vocal performance is a traditional art form for Inuit women.
Throat singing
On the Northwest Coast, society was structured into these two main classes based on inherited status and wealth.
Nobility and Commoners
These semi-underground houses provided winter warmth for the Interior Salish of the Plateau
Pit houses
This major ceremony involving dancing and vision dreams is a central tradition for the people of the Plains.
Sun Dance
Located in the interior of BC, this region features a diverse mix of mountains, deep valleys, and dry grasslands.
Plateau
These belts, made of purple and white shells, were used by Eastern Woodlands groups to record history.
Wampum belts
In Subarctic and Plateau groups, major decisions were often made through this process of discussion and general agreement.
Consensus
To travel across deep snow, Subarctic groups used these two wooden tools.
Snowshoes and Toboggans
In Arctic culture, these individuals acted as both spiritual leaders and healers.
Shamans
This central region is dominated by flat, open grasslands and was once home to massive herds of bison.
Plains
The Plateau region is particularly well known for this intricate form of functional art used for storage.
Basket weaving
In the Plains region, these smaller units were led by chiefs chosen for their leadership and respect.
Bands
The "Three Sisters" refers to these three specific crops farmed in the Eastern Woodlands
Corn, Beans, and Squash
In the Plateau region, ceremonies were often specifically tied to the arrival and cycles of this vital fish.
Salmon
This massive region features dense "taiga" (forests), thousands of lakes, and rivers stretching across northern Canada.
Subarctic
Plains groups traditionally used these animals' hides as a canvas for painting history.
Buffalo (Bison) hides