What groups shaped the culture of the Southwest? Native Americans and the Spanish living together, shared their cultures.Click to see full answer. Consequently, what is the culture of the Southwest?Three of the major cultural traditions that impacted the region include the Paleo-Indian tradition, the Southwestern Archaic tradition, and the Post-Archaic cultures tradition. As various cultures developed over time, many of them shared similarities in family structure and religious beliefs.Secondly, what did the Southwest tribes believe in? Spiritual Beliefs One of the Southwest Indians beliefs is that souls and spirits don’t only exist in humans. Also, that their beliefs were based on animism. Animism is based on the spiritual idea that plants, animals, rocks and so on have spirits. Herein, what tribes were in the Southwest? These Southwest Tribes are located in Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado (the southern section). There are five tribes from the Southwest: Apache, Hopi, Navajo, Pueblo, and Zuni. Most of these Southwest Indians lived in villages and farming was their main occupation.Who settled in the Southwest region?The first explorers and settlers of the Southwest were American Indians; they gave the vast area much of its distinctive culture and learned how to live in its climate and geography. Some of the earliest and most expansive attempts at colonizing were made by the Spanish.