First Peoples Settlement After the arrival of the Europeans

The big idea. As you learn about contact with the European people in this area, you will need to think about the big question you will be asked to comment on. Decide if the people living here should have: Helped the Europeans Ignored the Europeans Forced them out of the area

After the Arrival of Europeans Three groups of First Nations lived in the area: Assiniboin/e (Nakota) Cree (Plains and Northern) Saulteaux (Ojibway)

Assinboin/e Believed to have migrated from the south. Refer to themselves as Nakota. European fur traders named the Assiniboine River after having seen their camps and having heard the name of the people. Archaeology evidence (ceramic ) at Lockport shows that ancestors of modern Assiniboine peoples lived there long ago. Traded with the Plains Cree and with French and English/Scottish fur traders The men became guides, interpreters and traders. Women made clothing and snowshoes for fur traders. Many died from the diseases that were introduced by the Europeans.

Cree The Cree lived in present day Manitoba, from Hudson Bay to the southwestern part of the province. Contact with the Europeans changed life for both the Cree and the Europeans. Read the section from the link. How did life change for the Cree? How did they help the European traders? The Cree in Manitoba Discuss the roles of the various people. Note how contact changed life for both groups. The arrival of the horse, although not stated in the piece, was because of European contact further south. This is beginning to set up the assignment and the thinking of Inquiry Questions: Should the first people helped, ignored or fought against the Europeans.

Saulteaux This group of people migrated from Ontario, probably from around Sault St. Marie, Ontario. Arrived in St. Clements area in the mid to late 1700’s. They call themselves: Ah-nish-in-ah-bay Outchibouec Chippewa Ojibway

Chief Peguis Born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Had a Saulteaux mother and a French father Migrated to Minnesota, then moved to Pembina where they traded furs with the Hudson’s Bay Company and North West Company. In the 1780’s his people migrated to the forks of the Red and Assiniboine River.

A Camp of Death Peguis and his people paddled north to present day Netley Creek. Discovered a large band of Cree and some Assiniboine dead in their camp. Two stories: Smallpox (disease brought by the Europeans) killed the people. It is very infectious and spread rapidly. A large group of Dakota Sioux attacked the old people, women and children who camped here. The men had gone north during the summer to trade furs at York Factory on Hudson Bay. Either way, a whole band of people was dead.

Your task. You have read and discussed life in the area before the arrival of the Europeans and early contact with the Europeans. Decide if the people living here should have: Helped the Europeans Ignored the Europeans Forced them out of the area Be prepared to give evidence to back up your decision. You may use information from the power point presentations and the St. Clements website. You will have to use additional sources of information. Your presentation may be written, presented as a speech, acted out, or in another format accepted by the teacher.