The Aleut tribes living on the Aleutian Islands in the Barents Sea have long been engaged in hunting, fishing, and whale hunting. The traditional dwelling of the Aleuts was the ulyagam, a large-sized semi-dwelling for a large number of people (from 20 to 40 families). It was underground, inside there were bunks separated by curtains, in the middle there was a huge stove, and you went down there on a log in which there were carved steps.

By the time the European conquerors arrived in the Americas, there were about 400 Indian tribes with a separate language and written language. Columbus first encountered the natives of these lands on the island of Cuba and, thinking he had reached India, called them “Los indios,” and they have been known as Indians ever since.