Three of Canada’s First Nations Mi’kmaq Haudenosaunee Anishinabe Chapter One 1

Questions to Look At: What were the different ways in which Mi’kmaq, Haudenosaunee and Anishinabe societies structured? How do environment and geography affect culture and identity? How can connections to the past be important to identity? 2

Why these groups? These were some of the first groups to have contact with the European colonists; they were very affected by them! 3

Focus Area 4

Mi’kmaq Society A look into how their tribe is set up! 5

Seasonal Movement Lived close to coast in summer, in the forest in the winter Made best use of resources of the land Fit their way of life to suit the land 6

Mi’ kmaq Society: Economic Structure Identify examples of how the society used the land Dug large round ponds for farming freshwater fish Hunted the land Used resources from the land to build homes (poles/sheets of bark) Gathered fruit, wild vegetables, bark and roots for food and medicines Farmed land Did not change the land to suit their needs; they fit their way of life to the opportunities the land afforded 7

Mi’kmaq: Economic Structure continued Identify examples of technologies the society used Split-wood baskets Snowshoes Toboggans Wigwam (portable home) Canoes for river and ocean travel 4m long Wove mattresses from evergreen branches Harpoons Mikmaq boxes – used porcupine needles to help make it.

Mi’kmaq: Social Structure - making decisions Identify examples of how the society made decisions Identify examples of the role of women in decision making Identify examples of the role of men in decision making Community held meetings Saqamaw – a leader in Mikmaq society. Chosen and advised by councils of Elders to represent its district. When all districts met they made up the Grand Council Grand Council advised communities how to live, also managed relations with other First Nations Women allowed to sit in on meetings, but had no say in the outcome Men made up the Grand Council, and the Saqamaw

Seven Districts Each district sends a rep to a Grand Council The Grand Council meets once a year Advises where to hunt, fish, set up camps Manage relations with other First Nations 10

Mi’kmaq Cont’d Used all the resources around them (using evergreen branches to make mattresses) Had mass amounts of respect for each district and would help each other out Were religious – prayed and believe in the Creator Men and women had different roles All roles were viewed as important because it contributed to the whole Sharing and support were extremely important 11

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oynNPwFRQH8 12

Anishinabe (Ojibwa) A look into their society! 13

Anishinabe Society Believe in respect for all living things Used different camps between Summer and Winter Gather together to meet/make friends, exchange goods and food, do sports/ceremonies, and arrange marriages with different tribes Men hunt, women would garden and cook Ogimauh is the leader of the Anishnabe-Decided by consensus 14

Anishinabe Cont’d Decisions were made by being voted on Would make alliances by arranged marriages Have councils which discuss and make decisions Respect creation because thought that the Creator was present in everything Do not accumulate wealth, they take what they need Had special buildings for meetings; men and women were at them, sat in a circle 15

Anishinabe: Economic Structure Identify examples of how the society used the land. Fished Collected berries Farmed the land Grew wild rice in marshes Hunted the land Made Maple syrup

Anishinabe: Economic Structure continued Identify examples of technologies the society used Snowshoes Had tools to collect and skim maple syrup Canoes built for speed (long & narrow) Fire to bend/shape arrows Harpoons Nets for fishing Tobaggans Tools to get the wild rice (wooden rods) Moccasins

Dodems (clans) Society made up of clans who each had different responsibilities Clans worked together and provided balance 18

Clans/Duties Clan Duty Explanation Crane, Loon Leadership Provide balanced government. Wouldn’t always agree, so all decisions were made carefully. Fish Teaching, scholarship Taught skills and values, would also help solve fights between the Cranes/Loons. Bear Policing Patrolled villages/camps and would identify useful plants for medicine. Hoof Community needs Made sure there was housing and recreation . Opposed violence, were often poets. Marten Defense Hunters, warriors, and military strategists. Bird Spiritual needs High level of spiritual development and well-being 19

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Anishinabe: Social Structure - making decisions Role of Women and Men: They were treated equally. They became members of his or her father’s clan and among the clans they treated each other like brothers and sisters

Midewin Society Men AND women who had special spiritual/healing gifts People respected them Had eight levels of secret training Believed in having a good life, healed people, interpreted dreams/visions, and passed on sacred teachings/songs 22

Questions How did they make decisions? What is the role of women? How did geography/environment affect them? 23

Anishinabe Oral Tradition http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_9s6Shmtyg 24

The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) 25

Haudenosaunee: Economic Structure Identify examples of how the society used the land. Fished Collected berries Farmed the land Hunted the land Maple syrup

Haudenosaunee Society Lived in year round settlements in long houses Several families would live together Were an agricultural community Would only move when the land would not produce food 27

Longhouse 28

The Great Law of Peace Created a confederacy of six nations; the Cayuga, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Seneca, and Tuscarora Spoke different languages/lived in different areas and had own clans/councils Set rules of government, each member nation had an equal voice/status 29

Commitment to Peace Represents the Great Law of Peace The branches represent the nations Roots represent peace and strength The weapons is buried so there is no hostility among the nations 30

Grand Council Made confederacy decisions Were a council of 50 chiefs Were called the Hoyaneh Were chosen by the clan mothers Made decisions like whether to go to war, enter into trade, sign treaties, etc. 31

Haudenosaunee Cont’d The Peacemaker (brought the Great Law of Peace) was deeply respected (taught to respect all things) Use dreams to help make decisions Clan mothers bring decisions to the Hoyaneh who then make the final decision Looked to the tribe to approve big decisions 32

Questions How did they make decisions? What is the role of women? How did geography/environment affect them? 33

Haudenosaunee Society http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5mma0j17tQ 34

Examples of How Geography Affected the Identity of the People

How Geography Affected the Identity of the People Mikmaq Seasonal movement: Lived close to the coast in summer for fishing and hunting sea mammals and away from coast, in the forest, in the winter to hunt game Anishinabe Wild rice is a staple food for them. It grows naturally at the edges of lakes on the Canadian Shield Traveled by lakes and rivers so they built canoes for speed and easy handling in rough waters Haudenosaunee Agricultural people: the 3 Sisters: corn, bean, squash Had permanent dwellings (year round)