ITGenWeb Project

Cultural Areas

The map below depicts the general areas occupied at First Contact and the "boundaries" are only an approximation. It does, however, show which groups were united by a similar language and lived in the same area, thus providing some basis for understanding shifting alliances.

• Northeast: Shown in Dark Green. Home of the Iroquois and Algonquin groups. Some remnants of the Iroquois were removed to the Quapaw Tract. Some Algonquins were also placed in the Quapaw Tract but others were relocated to Oklahoma Territory. This link provides a more detailed map and chart of nations/tribes/bands moved from the northeast to what is now Oklahoma. See more...
• Southeast: Shown in Red. Home of many different language families, including Algonquin, Caddoan, Iroquoian (Cherokee), Muskogean (Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek and Seminole), and Siouan. This is the group that walked the infamous Trail of Tears to Indian Territory. Please check the corresponding ITGenWeb site for more information about each such group.
• Great Plains: Shown in Yellow. Algonquian, Athapascan, Caddoan, Siouan, and Uto-Aztecan. Many of these were relocated to Oklahoma Territory through a series of moves from one reservation to another. There are so many.
• Southwest: Shown in Brown. Athapascan, Penutian, Yuman, and Uto-Aztecan. Some Apache were removed to the southwestern part of Oklahoma Territory.
• Great Basin: Shown in Dark Blue. Primarily Uto-Aztecan with a few Yuman. No examples of relocation to Oklahoma found so far.
• Plateau: Shown in Pink. Penutian and Salish. The Modoc were relocated to the Quapaw Tract.
• Northwest: Shown in Light Blue. Na-dene and Penutian. No examples of relocation to Oklahoma found so far.
• California: Shown in Light Green. Athapaskan, Hokan, Penutian, and Uto-Aztecan. No examples of relocation to Oklahoma found so far.