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

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
  • Heiltsuk
  • Wuikinuxv
  • Kwakwakaʼwakw
  • Nuu-chah-nulth
  • Ditidaht
  • Makah
Nuxalk
  • Nuxalk
Coast Salish peoples
Northern Coast Salish
  • Island Comox
  • Mainland Comox
  • *Homalco
  • *Klahoose
  • *Tla'amin
  • Pentlatch
  • Sechelt
Central Coast Salish
  • Squamish
  • Nanoose
  • *Snuneymuxw
  • Stzʼuminus
  • *Penelekut
  • Cowichan
  • *Quamichan
  • *Lyackson
  • *Somena
  • Musqueam
  • Tsawwassen
  • Tsleil-Waututh
  • Kwantlen
  • Kwikwetlem
  • Katzie
  • Aitchelitz
  • Chawathil
  • Cheam
  • Leq'a:mel
  • Matsqui
  • Popkum
  • Seabird Island
  • Skawahlook
  • Shxw'ow'hamel
  • Skway
  • Skowkale
  • Skwah
  • Soowahlie
  • Sts'ailes
  • Sumas
  • Tsleil-Waututh
  • Tzeachten
  • Yakweakwioose
  • Nooksack
  • Semiahmoo
  • Lummi
  • Samish
  • Saanich
  • *Tsartlip
  • *Pauquachin
  • *Tsawout
  • *Tseycum
  • *Malahat
  • Lekwungen
  • T'Sou-ke
  • 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
  • Miluk
  • Lower Coquille
Kalapuyans
  • Atfalati
  • 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
  • Interior Salish peoples
  • Sahaptin people
  • Other or both

    Great Plains

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

Northeastern Woodlands