Native Americans in the past lived in diverse ways depending on their region, culture, and period. Generally, they lived close to nature, relying on hunting, gathering, and farming for their sustenance. Early groups, such as Paleoindians, were nomadic hunters who followed large game like mammoths and bison with stone-tipped spears and traveled light, living in movable homes made of sticks and animal skins.

Over time, many groups transitioned to more settled lifestyles, developing agriculture with crops like maize (corn), beans, and squash, which provided a more reliable food supply. They lived in villages with homes often built from local materials such as wood, grass, or clay. Many tribes developed sophisticated social and trade networks and constructed ceremonial earthworks or mound structures.

Native Americans had a holistic view of life and health, living in harmony with the environment with practices centered on respect for the land and all living things. Their cultures were passed down orally and included rich traditions of storytelling, spiritual healing, and community protection by warriors. Diets varied widely but commonly included meats from wild animals, fish, and cultivated plants, with careful utilization of natural resources.

In summary, Native Americans lived as deeply connected communities with nature, adapting their lifestyles from nomadic hunting to settled farming and complex societies with rich traditions and respect for the sacredness of the land.