Algonkian PeoplesBy Savannah, Pamina, & Natasha

Population

There are six cultural groups within the Algonkian peoples in Canada.

The Eastern Woodlands includes, among others, the Haudenosaunee, Mi'kmaq, Anishinaabe and Wendat (Huron).

Language

Algonkian

Micmac loved to play with language. They believed that women spoke the most beautiful one.

The words were very expressive and rich with images.

Having their own language made it possible for the Algonkian to make up their own words.

The Algonkian language made suffixes and prefixes. For example, ‘large-nosed person’.

The French disliked their expressive words.

Work

The Algonkian way of life was based on fishing, hunting and plant collecting, and the men and women hunted and fished together.

They were skilled weavers and they wove many baskets to preserve food, since game could be scarce in the winter.

Their year revolved around hunting and fishing.

They connected seasons with hunting and fishing seasons.

For example, instead of saying July the Algonkian would say “ It is the moon when seafowl shed their feathers.”

Economy

Trade played an important role in the economy.

The Algonkian groups usually traded with each other.

Their main export was beaver furs.

The Algonkian traded with the Iroquois as well.

Political Structure

There are no major confederacies amongst them.

The largest political unit was called a ‘village-band’.

Each clan had 1 chief, which was a hereditary title.

The clans could be traced back to paternal lines as well.

They also had animal names that were designated by animal totems.

It was a maternal society.

Ancestry and property were traced back through the female lineage within families.

Diet

White-tailed deer was the most important game

Freshwater fish

Moose

Caribou

Water fowl & land birds were also eaten when the season was right.

Variety of berries, nuts, tubers, and plants

Some groups harvested maple and birch sap, as well as white rice.

Inventions and Contributions

Women were the inventors of the tribes.

The Algonquian’s contributed these inventions to the modern world:

The Eel spear

Discovered how to make fire

Snowshoes

How to weave

How to plant corn

Significant Places

Woodland site near Peterborough, ON, called the Woodland Camp Site.

9 human-made earth mounds on a hill made by retreating glaciers.

8 are oval-shaped.

1 resembles a twisting serpent.

It was used as a summer camp.

It is essentially a huge graveyard.

Significant People

Glooscap was a Mi’kmac hero.

Part of the Algonkian creation story.

Glooscap means liar.

He got his name after lying about his secret

weakness to an evil spirit.

However, he is portrayed as a virtuous hero.

He does not commit any crimes.

Significant Events

Marriage is a serious business in the Mi’kmac society.

It is considered as an important way of linking people.

The Chief’s Assistant is called ‘Watcher of the Young People.’

The potential husband would live with the girl’s

family for 1 year.

The potential wife’s father wanted to make sure

that the couple got along.

Creation Story

The Great Earth Mother had 2 sons, Glooscap and Malsum.

Malsum was evil, selfish and destructive.

Malsum was able to kill Glooscap, but it didn’t last long.

Glooscap tricked Malsum and was able to destroy him.

Malsum now fears the light of day.

Bibliography

Bishop, Charles A. Aboriginal People: Eastern Woodlands. Parrott, Zack. Oct. 23rd, 2014. Historica Canada. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/aboriginal-people-eastern-woodlands/. Feb. 6th, 2015.

Brune, Nick. Defining Canada: History, Identity, and Culture. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited, 2003. Print.

Goldi Productions Ltd. Canada’s First Peoples. 2007. Goldi Productions Ltd. http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_groups/fp_wh7.html. Feb. 6th, 2015.

MacLean, Hope. Indians, Inuit, and Métis of Canada. Toronto: Gage, 1982. Print.

Native American Legends. “An Algonquin Legend.” First People. http://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Legends/AlgonquinCreationMyth-Algonquin.html. Feb. 5th, 2015.

Orrin, Lewis and Redish, Laura. Legendary Native American Figures: Glooskap (Glooscap). 2015. Google. http://www.native-languages.org/glooskap.htm. Feb. 5th, 2015.

Orrin, Lewis and Redish, Laura. Native Languages of the Americas. 2015. Google. http://www.bigorrin.org/algonquin_kids.htm. Feb. 5th, 2015.

Thank You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!