Peoples of the Subarctic By: Claire L.

Introduction Subarctic people are Aboriginal people (or the First Nations) that are found in the North regions of Canada with extremely seasonal climates. With various climate changes, survival is tough. Throughout this PowerPoint, you will learn how they adapt to their environment, how they survive, and many more.

Location The territory of the SubArctic people occupied most of the land in Canada from Yukon to Newfoundland. It includes all parts of the seven provinces and two territories.

Environment/Climate The ecosystem varies from mountains to swamps to coniferous forest. There are a few areas that are plains biomes. The majority of the SubArctic region was often swampy or muddy. During the winter seasons, the swampy areas would freeze and snow. The snow provided shelters for both humans and animals. Temperatures would reach -40 degrees in the winter but could rise to 30 degrees in the summer. Moose, caribou, bear, dall sheep, beaver, hare, marmot, groundhogs, wolverines, otter, marten, mink, weasel, muskrat, lynx, wolf, coyote, and fox are a few animals that inhabit in these areas. The Sub Arctic people used combinations of techniques to cope and adapt to the winter weather. Fish were plentiful in the Artic, Pacific, and Atlantic Ocean.

Environment/Climate

Clothing Clothing was usually made out of caribou hair due to its heat storing barrier when worn. The caribou hair was hollow which trapped the air. The inner layer was worn with the hair facing outwards and the outer layer was worn with the hair facing outwards. The hood was lined with fur to cover the majority of the person’s face. Their breath is trapped and it warmed the skin. Double boots of seal skin and caribou mittons complete the winter look. During the summer, the outter layer of clothes were not worn. Tribes in the northern forest regions often wore tanned hides. Sub Arctic people tried to wear lighter clothing at all time and would build fires when they needed warmth. Winter robes were made of rabbit skins cut out into strips, then twisted, then woven or sewn together.

Clothing

Food Fish was common and provided the Sub Arctic people plenty of proteins and energy during the cold seasons. Ice fishing was popular during the winter seasons. During the springtime or summer, rivers and the coastal waters become rich with seafood. Sub Arctic people often hunted caribou, moose, hare, musk, oxen, bear, and elk due to their hides. Edible wild plants were popular during the hotter seasons. Berries were dried in the fall and stored away in pits in the ground. Inuit people (people up further north) usually hunted seal, walrus, and whales. Seal was a great source of oil and fat and also nutrients. Caribou would take the same migrating route every year and would travel in a group. While the caribous travel, the Sub Arctic people would hunt them down. If the caribou changed routes, the people would have to face starvation.

Food

Shelter There are variety of shelters. The shelters are small and easy to set up and take down. The people would often move places to places. Lean-tos are free standing beams of woods or whale bones that were layered against a log or rock and were lashed together. Hides fur were layered against the interior walls to trap in warm air. Igloos were popular in the Northern parts of Canada. Tepes, pit houses, and wigwarms were quite popular as well. Tepees were often used during the summer times due to the warm conditions. Birch wood, brushes, lodge, and hide were commonly used for houses; often put together small pieces of trees.

Survival Men did most of the hunting while women snared hare, fished, cut and dried meat, and processed hides. When an animal is killed, the people would use every part of the animal. Animal hides were often used for fur trades. Survival depended on being able to travel long distances and transportation. During the summer seasons, they would move closer to rivers and lakes. They would frequently move places to gather fresh new resources. In their tribes, there are no leaders. They traveled light and preferred heavier tools. Families would move from different tribes to another.

Bibliography Firstpeoplesofcanada.com Britannica.com Thecanadianencyclopedia.ca Wearecanadians.wordpress.com Subarctic-Indians.weebly.com