History of North America

Contrast the living environment of northwest coast and Arctic Indians?

Northwest Coast

- mild, wet climate

- lush temperate rainforest

- abundant fish, shellfish, sea mammals, and birds

- lived in large, permanent villages of cedar plank houses

- highly stratified social structure with hereditary chiefs and nobles

Arctic

- cold, dry climate

- treeless tundra

- relatively few land animals, such as caribou, seals, and polar bears

- lived in small, semi-permanent camps of skin tents

- egalitarian social structure with no hereditary leaders