Character itself doesn't matter too much if you're just getting used to the game. Reroll until you get good stats. Drilik will start with better equipment, the various tribes have better stats, and the rest are sort of inbetween. But really, just reroll until you have decent stats and you'll be fine.
For starting area, I suggest the South West (Blue) regions where the Drilik are, they have the best towns to trade in and the weather is a bit milder than further north.
For scenario, I Want To Be a Fisherman is the easiest start. Fish is a very reliable early food source and having both a Fishing Rod and Nets makes that really easy.
Do the basic game course, it'll give you some good tips on how to play the game and grants you some nice free bonus stuff as you go.
After that, wander a bit to learn the lay of the land, fishing in any exposed water sources (ocean, rapids early on until the ice melts). Find a few towns and then look for a good place to set up a house. I prefer wooded areas near a nice water source of some sort. It's good to be near marshy areas but not in them, as the borders between woods and marsh are great for setting traps.
Early on you're going to be fishing for most of your food. It helps to get a cellar up fairly early to preserve food from lucky days to get you through unlucky days. Light Lever traps are also easy to make early on and will help supplement your food with various birds and small animals. I like to put a few about a view distance away from my shelter and some next to the cellar to ward off thieving critters. Shorelines are good too, as later in the year you'll often catch ducks and the like as they move from water to land.
Nets can't be placed near shore, so you'll need to get 3 bits of cord and make a raft. You can do that with bits of your starting clothing, or you can make basic trade goods like clubs, bowls, or javelins to trade for some.
From there it depends on what you like doing. If you trade for some beans, peas, grains, or seeds you can start farming once Seed month starts (about a month from the Spring start). You can build a trap fence a few tiles away from your home and get food & furs that way. Lots of options, really.