In order to test the hypothesis which states "the economic values of traditional tribal cultures are essentially the same", seven culturally and geographically diversified Native American tribes were investigated via library research. The tribes studied were: Mohawk and/or Iroquois (microthermal climate); Maricopa (tropical desert environment); Hopi (desert); Sioux (midlatitude steppe grasslands); Makah (mesothermal climate); Eskimo (harsh polar environment); Samoan (tropical rainforest). Findings supported the hypothesis, indicating in each case that: (1) the socioeconomic and political structure was based on the extended family and/or clan; (2) land was communally owned by the group (extended family, clan, or village); (3) there was relative economic equality (with exception of the Makah who had slaves); (4) there was an obligation to share one's material goods with the less fortunate within the ethnocentric "in" group; (5) there were leadership roles which were not absolute or domineering; (6) there was some form of consensus; (7) the virtue of sharing and generosity was universal; (8) there were higher and better defined ideals when legends contained a recent spiritual leader; (9) the traditional stage had not included money or any dominant medium of exchange; (10) there was strong emphasis on self-discipline and self-denial especially among Mohawk, Hopi, and Sioux. (JC)