Native People in North America Study Notes
The Algonquians (Micmac, Malecite,) lived along the eastern
coast of North America
The Algonquians were excellent hunters and gatherers. The
southern tribes were able to farm some of their food. Common crops were corn
and squash.
About 100 people lived and worked in one village. They shared everything, work, food, and
belongings and behaved like a large family.
Some of the Plains tribes called themselves Sioux, Assiniboine,
Plains Cree, and Blackfoot.
The Plains tribes were spread over central North
America. The most difficult times for
the natives on the Plains were the winters because it was difficult to find
food. Fortunately, they were skilled hunters of buffalo.
The group of natives lived all across the northernmost part
of North America were called the Northern Forest Natives. Some of the tribes were the Yellowknife,
Dogrib and Beaver. They had very different landforms such as Rocky Mountains,
flat plains and forests.
They survived trough long cold winters by eating meat and fish. The Northern Forest natives were nomadic
moving in order to find food.
The Algonquians lived in wigwams.
The Plains natives lived in tepees.
The houses of Northern Forest natives varied depending on
what part of the North they lived in.
Algonquin food: corn, squash, pumpkin and beans. Tools were made of stone, wood, antlers,
bones and shells. Bows and arrows and traps were used to catch the
animals.
Plains natives relied on hunting for food. Buffalo (bison) was their main prey. They also ate elk, deer and antelope. Weapons were spears, bow and arrow. The meat and most of the animal’s organs were
boiled and eaten.
Some hunting tribes traded meat for corn with the farming
tribes.
The terrain of Northern Canada has always presented some
difficulties for its inhabitants. It is
not possible to farm on the rocky land.
The early natives survived by using their fishing and hunting skills.
The most common catches were moose and caribou.
They also ate rabbit and wolverine.
Northern Forest natives moved often. They followed migrating game or left one
hunting area before killing too many animals.
Any food that was brought back to the tribe was shared with everyone.
The clothing of natives was made from the hide of
animals. Men wore loin cloth and women
wore a wrap around skirt or apron. On
their feet, they wore moccasins for warmth and protection.
Some natives such as the Algonquians, were beautifully
decorated; they painted their faces and bodies and used beads to add colour to
their clothing.
When travelling over water, they used canoes. These small light craft were made of birch
bark.
Tobacco was a part of their religion. They used it as medicine and in religious
ceremonies. The doctor of the tribe was
called a powwow or a shaman. Music and
dancing were also a big part of religion.
In 1492 Christopher Columbus reached the shores of North America.
Arriving on the Santa Maria, Nina, and the Pinta.
(In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue)
The natives signed treaties that gave the rights of the land
to the white people. As an attempt at
compensation there are reservations set up in Canada and the United
States. A reserve is a section of land,
many square kilometers that is home to many North American natives.
