An Economy = Environment + Resources + Technology + Labour + the Need to Provide Livelihood

 Aboriginal peoples’ world view shaped and directed the way they interacted with one another and with the natural environment  Ecological conditions dictated that Aboriginal peoples in different regions: 1. Pursued different economic activities 2. Had access to different resources 3. Determined the types of tools and technologies they created

 Their way of life was suited to their unique environments as Aboriginal peoples adapted to changes that occurred over time  Divided by geography, language, and culture, First Nations developed diverse practices that allowed them to survive and prosper on harsh lands

At the time of First Contact Aboriginal Peoples:  Had an advanced knowledge of plant science that would later transform world’s approach to agriculture and medicine  Sixty percent of the world’s crops origins are traced to pre-contact Aboriginal farmers Examples: Potatoes, Corn, Peppers, Squash, and Tomatoes  Techniques increased the global supply of nutritional foods allowing the world’s population to increase dramatically

At the time of First Contact Aboriginal Peoples:  Developed sophisticated stone tool technologies and methods of transportation suited to their environments  These various technologies reflected the social, economic, and cultural diversity of Aboriginal societies

What impact would geography have on the First Peoples in Canada?  Landscape and climate determined:  Traditional territories  Hunting, Fishing, and/or farming practices  Transportation options  Technological innovations  Size of population

Aboriginal innovations in agriculture:  Provided Europeans with new crops through trade  Developed sustainable farming practices  Demonstrated advanced food processing technology

ABORIGINAL TECHNIQUES  Aboriginal peoples concentrated on plant science  Hundreds of varieties of corn developed  Developed grinding and preservation techniques while maintaining nutritional value  Gathered wild food such as rice and berries  Sustainability and biodiversity provided long term economic benefits EUROPEAN TECHNIQUES  European agriculture was based largely on animal farming  Europeans had a different attitude toward land use  Individualistic practice aimed to control nature through monoculture  Not as concerned with sustainability and biodiversity

 In addition to traditional farming, Aboriginal peoples gathered edible wild forest products such as nuts, berries, tree sap, and wild vegetables  Eaten fresh or sun dried and stored in watertight containers for use in winter months  Gathered plants such as sweetgrass for spiritual and ceremonial purposes

 Although viewed inferior, Aboriginal medicine was much further advanced than its European counterpart  Europeans had a limited knowledge of plant science  Aboriginal medicines would become the basis for modern western pharmacology  Aboriginal cure for scurvy not only saved Jacques Cartier’s men from death but also led to the discovery of vitamins  Salicin found in tree bark was used to cure aches and pains and is still the active ingredient found in aspirin

 Variety of resources found in North America’s eco-systems provided opportunity for Aboriginals to become great traders  Motivation for trade was the need for goods from other regions  Trade led to establishing friendships and creating alliances  Archaeological evidence shows well established long distance trading networks were developed

 Artifacts uncovered in the St. Lawrence Lowlands suggest very established trade routes:  Arrowheads found were made from materials found in Labrador  Copper tools were from north of Lake Superior  Conch shells discovered were from the Gulf of Mexico  Mineral Obsidian used to create tools and weapons was also traded  Wampum shells used to make wampum belts was traded  Wampum was an important component of the fur trade  Perishable food items and wooden objects assumed to be traded but evidence has long since decayed  Europeans changed the outlook as they did not trade based upon need, but did so to amass wealth

Transportation technologies were well adapted to the Canadian climate and physical geography  The canoe has been called “the masterpiece of Amerindian inventiveness”  Canoes and kayaks opened up the fur trade to European economies  The Thule built Umiak – flat bottomed boats that carried up to 20 people – used for whale hunting in the north  Plains people followed buffalo herds developed the Travois  Winter climate led to the development of dogsleds, snowshoes, skates, and sun goggles

 Travois were pulled by dogs or wolves and later by horses after they were brought to the Americas by the Spanish in the 1500s  Horses were on the plains circa 1700s and drastically changed the buffalo hunt  Hunted Buffalo usually mostly spoiled before the meat could be preserved – horse drawn Travois sped up the process  Buffalo pounds corralled herd to waiting hunters  Buffalo jumps were steep cliffs over which herds were driven

 Oral histories of Aboriginal people reveal a world view, or spiritual philosophy, that reflects a close relationship between their economies and the natural world  People were equal with nature, not superior  Most Aboriginal societies practiced a lifestyle of sustainable development – only using what was needed to survive

 Wealth was measured in non-material values such as spiritual powers and good relationships  Material goods were associated with prestige when shared in ceremonies and rituals rather than as a marker of individual wealth  Potlatch- Pacifica Coast- celebratory feast demonstrating property was shared by community

 By the time of first contact, Aboriginal Peoples had sophisticated economic systems tied to their ecosystems  Societies based upon interrelationships based upon available resources  For centuries they had acted on their world views- land was shared and used collectively and responsibly  Europeans had vastly different practices and first contact forever changed economic structures in the Americas