Classification of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas

Historically, classification of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas is based upon cultural regions, geography, and linguistics. Anthropologists have named various cultural regions, with fluid boundaries, that are generally agreed upon with some variation. These cultural regions are broadly based upon the locations of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas from early European and African contact beginning in the late 15th century. When Indigenous peoples have been forcibly removed by nation-states, they retain their original geographic classification. Some groups span multiple cultural regions. Peoples can also be classified by genetics, technology, and social structure.

Canada, Greenland, United States, and northern Mexico In the United States and Canada, ethnographers commonly classify Indigenous peoples into ten geographical regions with shared cultural traits, called cultural areas. Greenland is part of the Arctic region. Some scholars combine the Plateau and Great Basin regions into the Intermontane West, some separate Prairie peoples from Great Plains peoples, while some separate Great Lakes tribes from the Northeastern Woodlands.

Arctic

Paleo-Eskimo, precontact cultures, Russia, Alaska, Canada, Greenland, 2500 BCE–1500 CE Arctic small tool tradition, precontact culture, 2500 BCE, Bering Strait Pre-Dorset, eastern Arctic, 2500–500 BCE Saqqaq culture, Greenland, 2500–800 BCE Independence I, northeastern Canada and Greenland, 2400–1800 BCE Independence II culture, northeastern Canada and Greenland, 800–1 BCE) Groswater culture, Labrador and Nunavik, Canada Dorset culture, 500 BCE–1500 CE, Alaska, Canada Aleut (Unangan), Aleutian Islands of Alaska, and Kamchatka Krai, Russia Inuit, Russia, Alaska, Canada, Greenland Thule, proto-Inuit, Alaska, Canada, Greenland, 900–1500 CE Birnirk culture, precontact Inuit culture, Alaska, 500 CE–900 CE Greenlandic Inuit, Greenland Kalaallit, west Greenland Avanersuarmiut (Inughuit), north Greenland Tunumiit, east Greenland Inuvialuit, western Canadian Arctic Iñupiat, north and northwest Alaska Yupik peoples (Yup'ik), Alaska and Russia Alutiiq (Sugpiaq, Pacific Yupik), Alaska Peninsula, coastal and island areas of south central Alaska Central Alaskan Yup'ik people, west central Alaska Cup'ik, Hooper Bay and Chevak, Alaska Nunivak Cup'ig people (Cup'ig), Nunivak Island, Alaska Siberian Yupik, Russian Far East and St. Lawrence Island, Alaska Chaplino Naukan Sirenik, Siberia

Subarctic

Ahtna (Ahtena, Nabesna), Alaska Anishinaabe – see also Northeastern Woodlands Oji-Cree (Anishinini, Severn Ojibwa) Ontario, Manitoba Ojibwa (Chippewa, Ojibwe) Ontario, Manitoba, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota Atikamekw, Quebec Cree, Central and Eastern Canada, North Dakota Dakelh (Carrier), British Columbia Babine, British Columbia Wet'suwet'en, British Columbia Deg Hit’an (Deg Xinag, Degexit’an, Kaiyuhkhotana), Alaska"Dena'ina." Alaska Native Language Center. Accessed December 10, 2016. Dena’ina (Tanaina), Alaska Dene people, Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba Chipewyan, Alaskan interior, Western Canada Tłı̨chǫ (Tlicho), Northwest Territories Yellowknives (T'atsaot'ine), Northwest Territories Slavey (Awokanak, Slave, Deh Gah Got'ine, Deh Cho), Alberta, British Columbia Sahtú (North Slavey, Bearlake, Hare, Mountain), Northwest Territories Gwich'in (Kutchin, Loucheaux), Alaska, Yukon Dane-zaa (Beaver, Dunneza), Alberta, British Columbia Hän, Alaska, Yukon Holikachuk, Alaska Innu (Montagnais), Labrador, Quebec Kaska Dena (Nahane), Yukon Kolchan (Upper Kuskokwim) Koyukon, Alaska Naskapi, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador Sekani (Tse'khene), British Columbia Tagish, Yukon Tahltan, British Columbia Tanana Athabaskans (Tanacross), Alaska Lower Tanana, Alaska Middle Tanana, Alaska Upper Tanana, Alaska Inland Tlingit, Alaska, British Columbia Tsetsaut (extinct), formerly Alaska, British Columbia Tsilhqot'in (Chilcotin), British Columbia Northern Tutchone, Yukon Southern Tutchone, Yukon

Pacific Northwest coast

Of the Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Coast, it is widely agreed upon by scholars that that the area north of the Haisla represents a cultural subarea, called the "Northern" or "Northern Maritime" area. However, south of this, there is a deal of disagreement on the existence of any subareas, especially south of Vancouver Island. For the purposes of organization, south of the Northern subarea, tribes are grouped by language family.

Northern subarea Eyak () Tlingit () Haida Nisga’a () Gitxsan Tsimshian () Haisla people

Wakashan Xai'xais (a.k.a. Haihais) Heiltsuk (a.k.a. Bella Bella) Wuikinuxv (a.k.a. Oowekeeno) Kwakwakaʼwakw (; a.k.a. Kwakiutl) Nuu-chah-nulth (a.k.a. Nootka) Ditidaht Makah ()

Nuxalk (Salishan) Nuxalk (a.k.a. Bella Coola)

Coast Salish peoples

Northern Coast Salish Island Comox Mainland Comox Homalco Klahoose Tla'amin (a.k.a. Sliammon) Pentlatch Sechelt ()

Central Coast Salish Squamish Nanoose Snuneymuxw (a.k.a. Nanaimo) Stzʼuminus (a.k.a. Chemainus) Penelekut Cowichan Quamichan Lyackson Somena Musqueam Tsawwassen Tsleil-Waututh Kwantlen Kwikwetlem (a.k.a. Coquitlam) Katzie Aitchelitz Chawathil Cheam Leq'a:mel Matsqui Popkum Seabird Island Skawahlook (a.k.a. Tait) Shxw'ow'hamel Skway Skowkale Skwah Soowahlie Stó꞉lō Sts'ailes Sumas Tsleil-Waututh Tzeachten Yakweakwioose Nooksack Semiahmoo Lummi Samish Saanich Tsartlip Pauquachin Tsawout Tseycum Malahat Lekwungen (a.k.a. Songhees) T'Sou-ke (a.k.a. Sooke) Klallam

Southern Coast Salish Sauk-Suiattle Upper Skagit Swinomish Snohomish Snoqualmie Suquamish Duwamish Puyallup Nisqually Steilacoom Squaxin Twana Skokomish

Southwestern Coast Salish Quinault Lower Chehalis Upper Chehalis Cowlitz

Chimakuan Chemakum Quileute Hoh

Chinookans Lower Chinook Clatsop Shoalwater Chinook Kathlamet Multnomah people Clackamas people

Oregon Salish Tillamook Siletz

Alseans Alsea Yaquina

Siuslawans Siuslaw Lower Umpqua Coosans Hanis (a.k.a. Coos) Miluk Lower Coquille

Kalapuyans Atfalati (a.k.a. Tualatin) Yamhill Ahantchuyuk Luckiamute Santiam Mary's River Chemapho Tsankupi Tsanchifin Mohawk Chelamela Winnefelly Yoncalla

Athabaskans Kwalhioqua Clatskanie Upper Umpqua Tututni Upper Coquille Chasta Costa Chetco

Northwest Plateau

Chinook peoples Clackamas, OR Clatsop, OR Kathlamet (Cathlamet), Washington Multnomah Wasco-Wishram, OR and WA Watlata, WA

Interior Salish peoples Chelan, WA Coeur d'Alene Tribe, ID, MT, WA Entiat, WA Flathead (Selisch or Salish), ID, MT Bitterroot Salish Kalispel (Pend d'Oreilles), MT, WA Lower Kalispel, WA Upper Kalispel, MT Methow, WA Nespelem, WA Nlaka'pamux (Thompson people), BC Nicola people (Thompson-Okanagan confederacy) Sanpoil, WA Secwepemc, BC (Shuswap people) Sinixt (Lakes), BC, ID, and WA Sinkayuse (Sinkiuse-Columbia), WA (extinct) Spokane people, WA Syilx (Okanagan), BC, WA St'at'imc, BC (Upper Lillooet) In-SHUCK-ch, BC (Lower Lillooet) Lil'wat, BC (Lower Lillooet) Wenatchi (Wenatchee), WA

Sahaptin people Cowlitz, (Upper Cowlitz, Taidnapam), Washington Klickitat, Washington Nez Perce, Idaho Tenino (Tygh, Warm Springs), Oregon Umatilla, Idaho, Oregon Walla Walla, WA Wanapum, WA Wauyukma, WA Wyam (Lower Deschutes), OR Yakama, WA

Other or both Cayuse, Oregon, Washington Celilo (Wayampam), Oregon Cowlitz, Washington Kalapuya, northwest Oregon Atfalati (Tualatin), northwest Oregon Mohawk River, northwest Oregon Santiam, northwest Oregon Yaquina, northwest Oregon Klamath, Oregon Kutenai (Kootenai, Ktunaxa), British Columbia, Idaho, and Montana Lower Snake people: Chamnapam, Wauyukma, Naxiyampam, Washington Modoc, formerly California, now Oklahoma and Oregon Molala (Molale), Oregon Nicola Athapaskans (extinct), British Columbia Palus (Palouse), Idaho, Oregon, and Washington Upper Nisqually (Mishalpan), Washington

Great Plains

Indigenous peoples of the Great Plains are often separated into Northern and Southern Plains tribes.

Anishinaabeg (Anishinape, Anicinape, Neshnabé, Nishnaabe) (see also Subarctic, Northeastern Woodlands) Saulteaux (Nakawē), Manitoba, Minnesota and Ontario; later Alberta, British Columbia, Montana, Saskatchewan Odawa people (Ottawa), Ontario, Michigan, later Oklahoma Potawatomi, Michigan, Ontario, Indiana, Wisconsin, later Oklahoma Apache (see also Southwest) Lipan Apache, New Mexico, Texas Plains Apache (Kiowa Apache), Oklahoma Querecho Apache, Texas Arapaho (Arapahoe), formerly Colorado, currently Oklahoma and Wyoming Besawunena Nawathinehena Arikara (Arikaree, Arikari, Ree), North Dakota Atsina (Gros Ventre), Montana Blackfoot Kainai Nation (Káínaa, Blood), Alberta Northern Peigan (Aapátohsipikáni), Alberta Southern Piegan (Aamsskáápipikani), Montana Siksika (Siksikáwa), Alberta Cheyenne, Montana, Oklahoma Suhtai, Montana, Oklahoma Comanche, Oklahoma, Texas Plains Cree, Montana Crow (Absaroka, Apsáalooke), Montana Escanjaques, Oklahoma Hidatsa, North Dakota Iowa (Ioway), Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma Kaw (Kansa, Kanza), Oklahoma Kiowa, Oklahoma Mandan, North Dakota Métis people (Canada), North Dakota, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta Missouri (Missouria), Oklahoma Omaha, Nebraska Osage, Oklahoma, formerly Arkansas, Missouri Otoe (Oto), Oklahoma Pawnee, Oklahoma Chaui, Oklahoma"Preamble." Constitution of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma . Retrieved 5 Dec 2012. Kitkehakhi, Oklahoma Pitahawirata, Oklahoma Skidi, Oklahoma Ponca, Nebraska, Oklahoma Quapaw, formerly Arkansas, Oklahoma Sioux Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Manitoba, Saskatchewan Santee, Nebraska Yankton, South Dakota Yanktonai, formerly Minnesota, currently Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota Lakota (Teton), Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Saskatchewan Sičháŋǧu (Brulé, Burned Thighs) Oglála (Scatters Their Own) Itázipčho (Sans Arc, No Bows) Húŋkpapȟa (Hunkpapa) Mnikȟówožu (Miniconjou) Sihásapa (Blackfoot Sioux) Oóhenuŋpa (Two Kettles) Nakoda (Stoney), Alberta Nakota, Assiniboine (Assiniboin), Montana, Saskatchewan Teyas, Texas Tonkawa, Oklahoma Tsuu T’ina, (Sarcee, Sarsi, Tsuut’ina), Alberta Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Kitikiti'sh), Oklahoma, formerly Texas and Kansas Kichai (also related to the Caddo), Oklahoma, formerly Texas and Kansas Taovayas (Tawehash), Oklahoma, formerly Texas and Kansas Tawakoni, Oklahoma, formerly Texas and Kansas Waco (Iscani, Yscani), Oklahoma, formerly Texas Wichita proper, Guichita, Rayados, Oklahoma, formerly Texas and Kansas

Eastern Woodlands

Northeastern Woodlands

Annamessex, Annemessex, formerly Eastern Shore of Maryland Anishinaabeg (Anishinape, Anicinape, Neshnabé, Nishnaabe) (see also Subarctic, Plains) Algonquin,"Cultural Thesaurus" . National Museum of the American Indian. Accessed 8 April 2014. Quebec, Ontario Nipissing, Ontario Ojibwe (Chippewa, Ojibwa, Ojibway), Ontario, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota Mississaugas, Ontario Saulteaux (Nakawē), Ontario Odawa people (Ottawa), Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Ontario; later Oklahoma Potawatomi, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ontario, Wisconsin; later Kansas and Oklahoma Accomac people, formerly Eastern Shore of Virginia Accohannock, formerly Eastern Shore of Virginia Gingaskin, formerly Eastern Shore of Virginia Adena culture (1000–200 BCE) formerly Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, Kentucky, New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland Assateague, formerly MarylandSturtevant and Trigger 241 Attawandaron (Neutral Confederacy), formerly Ontario Beothuk, formerly Newfoundland Chowanoc, Chowanoke, formerly North Carolina Choptank people, formerly Maryland Conoy, Virginia, Maryland Fort Ancient culture (1000–1750 CE), formerly Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and West Virginia Erie, formerly Pennsylvania, New York Etchemin, formerly Maine