Horton High School's Canadian History 12
Web Page and Student Resource

 

Chapter One: the Aboriginal Peoples

•  it is believed the first Aboriginal Peoples migrated from Asia between 3,000 - 10,000 years ago on a land bridge crossing the present-day Bering Strait.
•  over centuries these peoples migrated south throughout present-day North, Central and South America. As time passed, these peoples developed numerous languages, dialects, cultures and religions, thus creating a widely diverse indigenous population.
•  it is difficult to make any generalizations about these peoples, however, in the context of Canada, the Aboriginal Peoples have been categorized by regions. These regions are, as follows:

1. Atlantic/Gulf Region: this region was primarily inhabited by the Algonkian speaking natives, the largest of these peoples being the Mi’kmaq. The Beothuk of Newfoundland was believed to be a victim of European genocide, with few, if any, surviving. The Mi’kmaq were prosperous, they hunted and fished, and had a population of about 35,000 by about 1500 A.D.. Although they did migrate somewhat with the hunt, they did establish villages and communities. Had organized societies with regional chiefs. Elders were revered in their society and seen as judges.

2. Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Lowlands: the Iroquois were the largest group in this region, with the Huron and Mohawk being the most common tribes. Contrary to popular belief, these people were not primarily warriors, but farmers, growing corn, beans and squash. The fertile lands of present-day Southern Ontario were home to these experienced and versatile farmers. By around 1500 A.D., it is believed the Mohawks alone numbered 25,000. The women in these societies tended to be held in very high standing - were primarily the farmers while the men were hunters and gatherers. Women could judge the chiefs and vote them out. To be discussed later is the Iroquois Confederacy, a mostly political, economic and military alliance of five, and later six, Iroquois tribes, which sought to hold onto its rightful territories from the Europeans.

3. Canadian Shield First Nations: the rocky terrain of the Canadian Shield made farming all but impossible, thus the natives of this region tended to survive on hunting and trade. Some of the well known tribes of this area were the Ojibwa, Cree, Nipissing, Algonkin and Innu to the North. The men were mainly hunters of caribou, seal and whales. Most societies were communal, with the sharing of goods. The largest tribe was the Ojibwa, spanning present-day Quebec, Ontario and into Manitoba. These peoples were migratory, following the hunt in order to survive. Played numerous sports, lacrosse being created in this region.

4. Interior Plains: made up primarily of what we know as the Prairie Provinces and some of the northern American states. These peoples were nomadic, travelling with the hunt. The main tribe was the Black Foot, with the Sioux also being a major tribe. Primarily hunted the buffalo. The Black Foot had a militant society, worshipping the sun and thunder and bringers of food and war. This society tended to be less egalitarian for women, as men could practice polygamy.

5. Western Cordillera First Nations: the west coast of Canada was home to a great and varied number of Aboriginal tribes with numerous customs, religions and societies. The variety has been attributed to the geography, namely the Rockies, which separated the tribes from each other, while along the coast the numerous islands were home to at least 12 different languages and hundreds of dialects.  Tended to be very affluent tribes, led by a male chief and a shaman or spiritual leader. Tended to have hereditary lines for succession, much like Europe. These societies were very class based, with the rich holding much power over the poorer peoples. Some tribes had slavery. A potlach was a festival whereby the rich gave the poor numerous goods and gifts in turn for their service and subservience. Kept the class structure intact. Fishing was plentiful, primarily salmon, halibut ad shellfish. Built weirs to divert the fish. Also had an abundance of timber for homes and boats. Some of the well known tribes were the Tsimshian, Salish, Kwatkiutl, Haida and Nootka.

6. The North: this region was very loosely organized, due primarily to the vast Northern terrain. The land was very harsh, thus the peoples of this region are very resourceful. Hunting and fishing are the main ways of life, by using kayaks and dog sleds to cover the vast territory. Used igloos to survive the freezing temperatures. Some of the common Northern tribes were the Inuit and the Thule. Spoke Athapaskan. Relatively small population compared to the other regions.