What is Salish-Shidhe like? Options

[mraston]

I have my runners smuggling something from Seattle, all the way into Tir Tairngire. I liked the sound of a road trip. I've read through both (I believe Third Edition) books : Tir Tairngire and Native American Nations Volume 1.

I'm having a bit of trouble picturing what Salish-Shidhe council lands are actually like, as in how the "feel". Obviously Seattle and Tir are pretty oppressive places, one with Megacorps and another a fascist/racist group of elves running the show .

Salish-Shidhe on the other hand seems relatively "laid back", but how do people live?
I'm not American, so as such not terrible enlightened to Native American's and how an entire nation based on that culture would feel.
The runners will be traveling down interstate 5, what kind of settlements and people would they bump into?
I'm picturing an incredibly less dense population than the sprawl and infinitely more open space and trees, generally amicable people with a couple of lunatic shamans here and there, maybe some paranimals.

Also, border crossings: How should they play out in game terms? The entry into SS will be relatively painless, with maybe some warnings for a couple of things for the runners to cover up better when crossing into Tir (I have the runners doing a mission where the procure a VAV for entry into Tir). Would it be better to guide them towards skipping the border unofficially?