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Native American Cultures

The Southeast

T he geographic area of the southeast reaches to the Mississippi River on the west, the Atlantic on the east, the present states of Tennessee and West Virginia, in the north and the Gulf of Mexico in the south. The climate is mild, with plenty of rain to help plants grow. The rivers and coastline provide good fishing. The Native Americans who lived in this area became farmers, cultivating the lush land first with local plants such as sunflowers and persimmon . Later they grew staple foods such as potatoes, pumpkins, watermelons, maize (corn), and tobacco. Heavily Populated This part of North America was the most densely populated by Native Americans: between 150 and 200 nations lived here. The main nations were the Iroquoian- speaking Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Tuscarora in the north, the Powhatan and Chatawba on the coast, the Creek, Natchez, and Choctaw towards the south and the Seminole in what is now called Florida.

Tobacco Smoking Tobacco grew very well in the warm climate of the southeast. The habit of smoking tobacco became popular throughout North America and each nation had their own design of pipe, made from wood, stone, or clay. The ritual of smoking pipes also developed, probably changing from a healing role to a peacemaking one.

A soapstone pipe of a warrior and his victim.

T he Mississippi River delta lies to the west of this region. Because of the river the land in the southeast is fertile and good for growing, but there are also swamp areas.

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