Eli5: Why did civilizations such as the Pre Dorset, Thule, and Inuit not migrate south if their environments were so harsh and extreme?

Question

I read a few articles where some of these civilizations main focus was keeping warm because they were located so far north. So why would they not migrate more south?

In: 661

Answer 1

In practice, they did migrate southwards. The entire human settlement of the North and South Americas region was through ongoing migration over thousands of years. But simply put – as some people explored and moved, some chose to stay where they were. Presumably the difference between individuals and tribes/clans responding to their specific environmental and societal circumstances at the time.