Is the river (mississippi) impassable? because if so, it cuts the ap almost in half. Seems unrealistic to have to go nearly to Canada to get across. At least one crossing is necessary. To go from Choctaw to its geographical neighbor natchez requires conquering 12 territories.
I agree that the top of the map will be a wasteland to begin the game, and geographically it doesn't make sense that the arctic would be the most valuable region. Mexico has two of the largest pre-columbian civilizations and it is worth 1, while the Arctic has 27 words for snow and is worth 8?
![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif)
The polar region remains a bit confusing up in those islands... a few islands have borders drawn through them, so it's hard to know what's what.
Anyway, carry on the great work!