Aboriginal Groups in Canada Canadian History 11

Aboriginal People Aboriginal groups like in groups called tribes Each exhibited different traditions & living styles. Tribes were subdivided into bands or villages of a few families. Communities had similarities in language, culture and political organization. Some groups were nomadic (constantly moving) while others were famers (settled down) Land and weather played an important role in shaping the lives of the people.

Language 52 aboriginal languages spoken in Canada Common ancestral language Language can be grouped into 11 families (relation) Ex: Athapaskan, Algonquian and Iroquoian. Video = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULyRP pYHxdo&feature=related

Eastern Woodlands

The Algonquian Woodlands had: deer, bear, moose, caribou, fish and even seals and whales on the coast. Algonquian tribes had great hunting skills Gathered wild food like: rice and berries Had to move around live in wigwams

The Mi’kmaq Nation Maritime Provinces Algonquian Nomadic (according to the seasons) Spring, summer and fall: Lived by the seashore (salmon, eel, lobster, clams, seals) Winter: Lived more inland to hunt (moose, caribou, bear…)

The Iroquois Southern Ontario Hurons lived north of Lake Ontario and the Iroquois confederacy lived south of the lake. Huron-Iroquois word Kanata = village or community. Iroquois named after an animal. Expert farmers : corn, tobacco, squash and beans. They would trade their farmed goods for animal pelts and porcupine quills with tribe of the north. Corn, beans and squash = Three Sisters Towns of 2500 people and shared large “longhouses”

The Hurons Lived north of Lake Ontario Successful traders Wanted a monopoly Transportation: birch bark canoes Rivals with Iroquois confederacy

Plains Tribes

Plains Tribes Bison’s were at large (60 million) Important to the tribes :(Blackfoot, Cree and the Sioux). Culture surrounded the survival of the bison. Food, tipis, clothing, containers and tools. Later, horses became very important to their culture. Walked on foot

The Blackfoot Plain Tribe in Alberta Religious belief: Medicine bundle and the Sun Dance Protection against harm Rawhide bag: medicine pipe, eagle feather or owl, sweet grass, chokecherry wood, pieces of tobacco, stones etc. The Sun Dance: Early summer Relieve bad luck Shaman would make cuts in person’s chest or back looped leather strips from the skin to the pole. Danced around the pole gazing into the sun Scars = badge of courage

Plateau Tribes

Plateau Tribes From British Columbia Depended on the Fraser and the Thomson River. (full of salmon) Used the rivers for transportation. Source of food: Deer, caribou, elk, and mountain sheep Made log huts covered with bark for shelter. Plateau Tribes: Interior Salish, Kootenay, and Athapaskan.

Northwest Coast Known as the salmon people The Haida, Tlingit and the other groups from that area. Food was plentiful: deer and bear to ducks, seals and fish, fruits and plants. Made totem poles They moved to where the food was however, they always had a home base. Communities had 2 groups – nobles and commoners. Born into one group or the other.

Subarctic

Subarctic Found throughout Canada. Tribes= the Gwich’in up in the Yukon, the Dene in the northwest, The Cree and Ojibwa in the East. (spread out) Dependant on the migrating herds. Harsh living conditions groups would work together to survive. They would trade food and medicine.

Subarctic Groups would follow the herds, thus making them nomadic. Bands(groups) worked together a lot to help each other survive. Groups would be assigned certain tasks to help out. They would also trade food and medicine.

Arctic

The Arctic Inuit Inuit culture is quite different from other groups There are no trees, lots of deep snow and thick ice, and unique animals, such as seals, walrus, whales and caribou Developed tools: hunting gear, (harpoons; they had dog sleds and kayaks to get around. Built temporary shelters igloos and sod house Oral history.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULyRPpYHxdo&feature=related