Chapter 76 Question 067

Why did Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest define and strictly adhere to private land rights, while Native Americans in the Prairies never did? The most important economic resource for Native Americans living in the prairies was the large herds of bison that inhabited the area.Because bison usually roam in groups of hundreds of miles, insisting on the private ownership of bison grazing areas, the prairie must be divided and thousands of miles of expensive fences must be built.There are far more bison in a herd than hunters kill each year, so the benefits of maintaining private ownership do not justify the costs.

Conversely, the native Americans living in the Northwest Territories made their living mainly by trapping small animals for their fur and flesh.These animals generally do not roam over large areas, but live in a small piece of land for their entire lives.Defining the family's private rights to land is tantamount to allowing them to enjoy the right to hunt animals on this land.So the cost-benefit principle provides a very brief explanation for the different attitudes towards property rights among Native Americans living in different regions.