Native American Societies

No one is sure how Native peoples got to the Americas

Land Bridge- Maybe the crossed the gap between Siberia (Russia) and Alaska

Pacific Route- Maybe they “island-hopped” from Polynesia across the Pacific Ocean

Atlantic Route- Maybe they crossed the Atlantic (most likely via Iceland-Greenland)

Combination- Maybe it was a combination of the above

Pre-Contact Societies

What we know for sure is Natives got here somehow

There were a great number of diverse cultures among the Native Americans

Different languages Different religious practices Different lands Different lifestyles

Settlement

We know that the earliest Natives were here at least 11,000 years ago

By 3000 years ago (1000-500 BCE) most of Canada had been settled

Of course this wasn't known as “Canada” at the time, and many of the cultures stretched across the US/Canada border

Each of these societies were distinct and we should not confuse them as “one group”

Language Divisions

Algonquin From the Atlantic coast Ranged all the way across southern Ontario and

down into Detroit Had a well developed canoe technology

travelled through waterways of the St. Lawrence and surrounding areas

traded heavily all across the continent In the winter they travelled by toboggan and snow-

shoes semi-nomadic people- moved encampments from

one place to the next in search of food

Algonquin Cont...

Their semi-permanent shelters were known as wigwams

these would be made of animal skins and birch bark Their society was patriarchal (men held most of the

power) Shamans held a very influential role. They could heal

the sick and speak with spirits Would not reveal their real names to strangers for

fear of having evil spirits used against them

Mi'kmaq

Indigenous to Canada's Atlantic provinces and New England states

Their territory was divided into seven different districts, each with it's own government

The governments consisted of Chiefs and councils Were an Algonquin-language nation Their summers were mostly spent near the coasts

fishing and gathering other types of seafood

Mi'kmaq Cont... Winters were mostly spent inland hunting wild game Their main hunting weapon was the bow made from

maple trees Moose was the main target for hunters They would use bows, spears and dogs to hunt

moose 3-5 Men would try to lure the moose close to camp

for the kill and then women would drag it back for cleaning and preparing

Moose provided clothing, food, and shelter

Iroquois

The Iroquois lived near upstate New York and southern Ontario as far back as 1000 BCE. (3000 years ago)

Warred amongst themselves for a great many years. Sometime around 1450 CE many different groups

joined the Iroquois league to bring peace. Two men Deganawida and Hiawatha are credited

with bringing this peace

Iroquois Cont...

After peace, the Iroquois became one of the great powers on the continent

lived in Long Houses. (Long single-room houses for many related families to sleep)

Often warred with the Algonquin Farmed

Beothuk

From Newfoundland Nomadic: followed migration of salmon, caribou

and seals Harsh climate required many useful food

preservation techniques (drying, smoking) Large game animals were scarce. Had to rely on

smaller game Ate a lot of roots, nuts and berries

Blackfoot Natives of Saskatchewan, Alberta and Montana

areas Warrior culture Communities consisted of 10-30 lodges housing 80-

250 people People could leave and join other communities as

they wanted This provided a great deal of flexibility Communities were large enough to defend

themselves, yet small enough to manoeuvre

Blackfoot Cont...

In the winter people would stay in camps and live off of winter stores

In the summer they followed the Buffalo herds The major groups would meet annually in

midsummer for reunions Communal Buffalo hunts were of major significance

Haida

From the Pacific Northwest Credited with creating the totem pole Totem poles have many meanings and uses ranging

from stories, family histories and art Were excellent sailors They crafted vessels that could carry more than 60

people (made from a single redwood tree)

Haida Cont... They devised useful weapons for sea battles Much of their diet was seafood Used dip nets and weirs for fishing Weirs are long nets that stretch across an area of

water in which fish get caught Their social structure included nobles, commoners

and slaves Slaves were prisoners of war. They were always

male and were always released once they completed their task.

Inuit

Natives of northern Canada, Alaska, and Greenland Considered a distinct culture. (Not First Nations, or

Metis) Prey included whales, walrus, caribou, seal, polar

bears, muskoxen, birds and fox Their diet was mostly protein and fat. This helped

them survive in the harsh climate

Inuit Cont... Travelled in qajaq (covered seal skin canoes) Today

we have modern versions called kayaks Also used larger flat-bottomed boats called umaiq Sled dogs were also integral for overland travel Sleds would be made of wood or large animal bones

(whales) Because landmarks are scarce in the Arctic the Inuit

navigated using stars They would also built their own landmarks out of

rocks (Inukshuk)

And Many More...

There were over 200 distinct Native societies before European contact

This has been a brief overview of some of the major groups in Canada

The main purpose was to give you an idea of how different these cultures were from one another