Okay, so I was watching a promo film for Vancouver from 1976 - which is really not a great source, obviously - and it mentioned that some people had thought, at least at that time, trade may have occurred between Asian populations and indigenous North American populations prior to white settlement. Is there any evidence to support this idea? I mean, frankly, it wouldn't surprise me - if Europeans could make it to the East Coast over the ocean I see no reason for Asians being unable to make it to the West Coast - but I've never heard it mentioned before nor have I seen anything to suggest so. So what's the truth of the matter?
there have been a few posts about this, so check out these threads for previous responses
Why weren't modern Siberians colonizing the new world prior to Europeans
How come America was not "discovered" via the Bering Strait?
Russia is so close to Alaska, why didn't the Russians discover North America well before Columbus?
Did Alaskan natives have knowledge Asian peoples in Siberia before the colonization of the Americas?
and this section of the "popular questions" FAQ* (I know the section says "Atlantic", but the questions & especially the responses often include the west coast)
*see the link on the sidebar, or the "wiki" tab above