The Netsilik Inuit (also referred to as Netsilingmiut) are one of several groups who lived on the arctic coast of Canada (west of Hudson Bay). The Netsilik Inuit were hunters that lived in small family groups that had a simple social organization. They didn’t really have a formal government. The type of food they hunted (since they lived in the Arctic coast) were seals, caribou, muskoxen, and (when possible) polar bear. They also fished salmon, trout, and char when possible. They spoke in a dialect called Inuktitut (which is spoken by Inuit from northern Alaska to eastern Greenland). They tend to travel (mainly to the Hudson Bay and Thelon River) and obtained wood for sledges, knives, needles, and kayaks.
The Chipewyan (who are also known as the Denesuline) are people who are located in the Subarctic region of Canada. The Denesuline were based on hunting herds of caribou. They would use the meat for food and the skins for clothes, tents, and nets. They would form hunting groups which had 2 or more related families. They would then join with other groups to form larger bands. The authority of the leaders was
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dependent upon their wisdom and how generous they are. Chipewyan culture was known as people who would prefer subtlety to overt action. Social and individual flexibility were used as strategies to cope with the harsh northern environment. According to the Chipewyan tradition, Thanadelthur (known as the Slave Woman) guided an employee of the Hudson’s Bay Company to the Chipewyan territory and introduced her people to the Europeans.
From this meeting, Prince of Wales Fort, Churchill, and fur trade established between the Chipewyan and the Europeans. This fur trade however didn’t go well with their southern neighbors, the Cree. There was a peace treaty between the two tribes between 1716-176- but there was still hostility that continued. The fur trade also affected their relations with their northern neighbors (Inuit) who were recognized as enemies. But when the Europeans were introduced to the Chipewyan they also brought along their diseases. The presence of the diseases decimated the Chipewyan population. An example of this is the first great smallpox epidemic which happened between
1781-1782. Early European encounters happened in the early 19th century while they were looking for the Northwest Passage, they instead stumbled upon the Netsilik territory. Other expeditions that had Europeans stumble upon the Netsilik territory are the expedition where they would look for the remains of the Franklin expedition. The Netsilik first came in contact from the Vikings because they were exploring the eastern Canadian coast. The lives weren’t really affected by the arrival of the early Europeans except only for trade. The first contact with Europeans went poorly. Martin Frobisher was one of the first to come in contact with the Inuit. He brought back an Inuk (who was forced) to England. In the modern world, most Netsilik Inuit live in or near modern settlements. The way the Inuit live are mixed in with these government-built settlements. This is regarding to the languages spoken, education, and work skills. Income sources as well as travel experience are also affected. The identity of the community is starting to replace the Netsilik group identity and people are also basically practicing new ways of being Inuit. The Chipewyan formed relations with the Canadian government through a treaty. They basically experienced a century of federal policies that was aimed to destroy their culture through basically residential schools. Their culture was especially threatened when there was an increasing number of competing land uses (which was supported by federal government policies). This resulted in difficulties of supporting themselves by their traditional hunting and trapping economies. This became harder after WWII because government policies encouraged the Chipewyan to basically resettle in permanent administrative settlements.
Inuit Odyssey, by CBC’s: The Nature of Things covers the long and eventful journey of the Inuit people. Canadian anthropologist, Dr. Niobe Thompson searched for the answers to questions about who the modern day Inuit are, where did they come from, how did they survive and who did they conquer along the way? Thompson explored the direct lineage between modern day Inuit and the Thule people, and their interactions with the Dorset and Norse Vikings in their search for iron. Thompson is ultimately concerned with how the current warming climate will affect the Inuit people therefore, he decides to retrace the creation of the Inuit culture, starting his journey in the original homeland of the Thule people.
Beginning in the mid sixteenth century, French explorers were able to establish a powerful and lasting presence in what is now the Northern United States and Canada. The explorers placed much emphasis on searching and colonizing the area surrounding the St. Lawrence River “which gave access to the Great Lakes and the heart of the continent”(Microsoft p?). They began exploring the area around 1540 and had early interactions with many of the Natives, which made communication easier for both peoples when the French returned nearly fifty years later. The French brought a new European desire for fur with them to America when they returned and began to trade with the Indians for furs in order to supply the European demands. The Natives and the French were required to interact with each other in order to make these trades possible, and, over time, the two groups developed a lasting alliance. However, the French began to face strong competition in the fur trading industry, which caused many problems between different European nations and different native tribes. Therefore, the trading of fur allowed early seven- teenth century French explorers to establish peaceful relations with the Natives, however, com- petitive trading also incited much quarreling between competing colonies and Indian tribes.
They are mostly meat eaters because of the location the Haida, Iroquois, and Inuit had. The Inuit, Haida, and Iroquois ate sea animals like fish, seals, etc. and land animals like birds polar bears, etc. In the article www.firstpeopleofcanada.com it states that the inuit tribe, Haida tribe, and the Iroquois tribe mostly were meat eaters due to their location.
The Chipewyan would hunt in groups and when they come back women would prepare the meat so that men could eat first due to the fact that they are the hunters and they need energy. In terms of political life, they gathered and were really flexible about the hunt and decisions making so that they would know where to go to hunt caribou depending on the different migration routes and so on. The leader would be often a charismatic person. On the other hand, the Netsilik didn’t have a chief and didn’t have a political life, but a social control. Bands would deal with other bands and they were really autonomous. The leaders were the older hunters and they guided the community. All male votes were required when it came to important decisions. Newcomers had to have permission to stay, but had to follow a certain process. They also sang songs for different occasions like magic, hunting or even joking. When the issue was not possible to solve without losing something else, they would kill the person the person. So we can clearly see how these two tribes, even though living in somewhat the same areas are quite different in their way of
Higgins, J. (2008). Lifestyle of Fishers, 1600-1900. Retrieved June 14, 2014, from Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage: http://www.heritage.nf.ca/society/fishers_lifestyle.html
In Whapmagoostui, “accidental and suicidal deaths, drug and alcohol related illnesses, infectious diseases, and chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus and cancer are all found- sometimes in disproportionate number-in native communities across Canada” (14). By waamistikushiiu standards, such health conditions are deplorable; yet for the Cree, these ailments readily signify a deeper, perpetual ache of land and culture. For centuries, influences of waamistikushiiu culture have altered Cree living. Devastating fur trades, land usurpation, mercury poisoning in fish and waterways, and flooding damage are only a few of the casualties to Cree life in the whiteman’s pursuit of happiness. As “the only way to acquire [miyupimaatisiiun] strength is to eat Cree food, and the only way to get Cree food is by hunting,” the Cree are bound to defy whiteman devastation of their land and assert rights to survival on their own terms (94).
Life for the Métis was adventurous with all of the hunting and trading they did. Métis were the result of Aboriginal people and Europeans. Many would work at fur trading companies or just be hunters. When they would travel to different places they would often use Ox Carts to haul all of their belongings. Their culture was very important including what music they played and the language. When they traded they would sell a lot of things because they were so talented at making things. The Métis grew up an having unique and adventurous life including who they were, the culture, what they made, Red River Trails, the Fur Trade, where they've live and how they live today.
A different perspective on a smallpox epidemic during the French and Indian War appears in Andrew J. Blackbird's History of the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of Michigan. Blackbird, Chief Mack-e-te-be-nessy, was a member of a distinguished Ottawa family from the northwest shore of the Michigan lower peninsula. He wrote his History late in life, after a long career in education, politics, and public service.
Fur trading started between the Europeans along with the Aboriginals when the most valuable beaver pelts was a substituted for metal and clothing goods such as iron knives and axis, copper kettles, blankets and trinkets. The beaver pelts were well desired by the Europeans for the reason that using this fur for headgear provided an elegant way to keep dry. However these pelts were for fashion, as men and women could be instantly noted within the social hierarchy by according to their beaver hats. It was so valuable that the sand on the floor was filtered to save every hair that has fallen off. For the Europeans, captivating advantages of the rich furs from the Indians in the New World was a major factor in generating handsome profits, and there is no other pelt exchanging business enterprise like the Hudson's Bay Company. It is the oldest venture of Canada and it inspired many by its domination in the fur trading industry during its early years. They equipped their own armies, minted its own coins and even issued its own medals. The company had controlled fully one-third of present-day Canadian territory and were thought by many as a kingdom by itself in the fur industry. They had trading posts from the very north Arctic Ocean to Hawaii and as far south as San Francisco. HBC's revenue didn't generate simply from this one way trade in furs to Europe; it also consists of large amounts of European goods to North America. These goods incorporated many other products that local people cannot construct such as gunpowder, bullets, weapons, tobacco, kettles, pots, beads, fishing hooks, needles, scissors, and so much more. The Hudson's Bay Company showed a great measure of success since its formation, but it didn't come without s...
The Inuits food plans are fish and hunted arctic animals. The main reason the Inuit are still in northern Canada, is because they are used to their lifestyle and the northern
The Cree people have a rich and diverse history. Through methods of written and oral teachings, a greater understanding of the Cree people and their history has become apparent. In the following, I will highlight portions of Cree history to establish an understanding of such a rich culture. As a guide, I will use ideas highlighted in Jim Kanepetew’s (n.d) teachings of “The Ten Treaty Sticks”. Underlying concepts from “The Ten Treaty Sticks” have implications on both past and current practices of the Cree people. Since a large portion of the final exam is a chronological list of happenings, I will examine and extend the teachings of “The Ten Treaty Sticks” and how these align with teachings throughout the course. Using “The Ten Treaty Sticks” as a guide, I
Throughout the history of Canada the indigenous population of the country have been voiceless. They have been both suppressed and oppressed by the Federal and various Provincial governments within Canada. Many organizations tried to provide a voice for the native population but failed in their attempt. These organizations eventually merged together to become what is now known as The Assembly of First Nations. The Assembly of First Nations gives voice to the issues and problems facing the different components of the aboriginal community in Canada.
hunted with bows and arrows and as the years went on and how they trade with other tribes and
For the purposes of this discussion we will focus on the lives of the Inuit. The Inuit are a group of people often mischaracterized as Eskimos. They lived in the area of central and northeastern Canada and Greenland. There has been much discussion of the orignination of this group of people but the most recognized theory is that they crossed from northern Asia across thin bridge of land over the Bering Strait sometime around 6000-2000 BC. Many people mistakenly think that the Inuit and Native Americans are one in the same. It seems that the Inuit most likely came from Asia more likely than the Native Americans. Although both probably came to the Americas through the Bering Strait. Biological, cultural and dialect differences show the different origin. Much of this theory is supported due to the close resemblance of the Inuit to the Mongoloid races of Eastern Asia. Because of the harsh land and climate of the Arctic, this area was probably one of the last regions to be inhabited making the Inuit on of the earth’s younger cultures.
Indigenous Knowledge (IK) can be broadly defined as the knowledge and skills that an indigenous (local) community accumulates over generations of living in a particular environment. IK is unique to given cultures, localities and societies and is acquired through daily experience. It is embedded in community practices, institutions, relationships and rituals. Because IK is based on, and is deeply embedded in local experience and historic reality, it is therefore unique to that specific culture; it also plays an important role in defining the identity of the community. Similarly, since IK has developed over the centuries of experimentation on how to adapt to local conditions. That is Indigenous ways of knowing informs their ways of being. Accordingly IK is integrated and driven from multiple sources; traditional teachings, empirical observations and revelations handed down generations. Under IK, language, gestures and cultural codes are in harmony. Similarly, language, symbols and family structure are interrelated. For example, First Nation had a