Final answer:
American Indian and Alaskan Natives in the US are primarily concentrated in regions historically tied to their ancestral territories such as the Eastern Woodlands, the Southwest, the West, the Plains and Great Basin, the Northwest Coast, and the Arctic regions including Alaska, with each region hosting tribes with distinct languages and cultural practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
The regional distributions of American Indian and Alaskan Natives in the US present a complex and diverse tapestry that reflects both historical settlements and modern demographic changes. Historically, indigenous populations were widely distributed across North America, and these ancestral connections continue to influence their contemporary regional distributions. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the American Indian and Alaska Native population is most notably concentrated in specific regions that correspond to traditional territories.
These regions include the Eastern Woodlands (sometimes divided between Northeast and Southeast), the Southwest, the West (or California), the Plains and the Great Basin, the Northwest Coast, and the Arctic regions including Alaska. For instance, in the Southwest, the Navajo Nation represents the largest reservation in terms of both population and size. In the Great Plains, tribes such as the Sioux and the Cheyenne maintain a significant presence. The Arctic regions and Alaska are home to a variety of Native populations, including Inuit and other indigenous groups unique to those environments.