Book excerpt: The indigenous peoples of North America and Greenland have long inhabited and thrived in a variety of terrains and climates. The three different culture areas of the Arctic, American Subarctic, and American Northwest perhaps best exemplify this—from the sometimes stark environment of the tundra to the moderate conditions of the coastal regions in northern California, the indigenous communities in each found ways to subsist on the resources available to them even when facing social, political, or geographic adversity. This compelling volume examines the histories, lifestyles, and the spiritual and cultural traditions of the diverse groups that make up these culture areas.