Aboriginal People in Canada

Arrival Different groups came at different times: First Nations: Around 16,000 years ago Inuit: Around 5,000 years ago

Sedentary versus Nomadic Once here, First Nations split into many different cultures. Those cultures can be either thought of as nomadic (moving around, following food) or sedentary (staying in one place)

Nomadic Tribes- Leadership Leaders were chosen on the basis of merit. Leaders might change depending on the situation faced by the tribe.

Nomadic Tribes - Housing Nomadic tribes used wigwams or tipis as housing. Homes had to be easy to put up, pack up and transport.

Nomadic Tribes - Food Nomadic tribes hunted animals such as bison, caribou and deer. These tribes were also gatherers, collecting nuts, berries and seasonal vegetables.

Nomadic Tribes - Transportation *People in nomadic tribes often walked to travel. *Horses came later *They also used snowshoes, toboggans and their dogs pulled travois, or sleds.

Sedentary Tribes - Leadership Sedentary tribes had more permanent and formal government than nomadic people. The Chief was the head of government and represented the people in the village.

Sedentary Tribes - Housing Sedentary people built longhouses out of birch or cedar. 4-6 families lived in each house. They lived in permanent villages.

Sedentary Tribes - Food Most sedentary tribes were farmers or caught and dried fish. Sedentary people also gathered seasonal fruit and vegetables, and did some hunting.

Sedentary Tribes - Transportation Sedentary tribes also walked, but they also built canoes out of birch or cedar. Cedar canoes were often made from a single cedar tree.