Location and Description of the Algonkian Indians

Location and Description of the Algonkian Indians

- Algonkian lived in Quebec and Ontario; starting from the Ottawa valley, beneath Hudson Bay and above lower Ontario

- the areas in which they lived in were dense woodlands with trees, such as, birch and evergreen; and snow covered the land most of the year.

Adaptation to the physical Environment

Home

- Algonkian homes were called Wigwam, there frames were built out of saplings of tall, young tree trunks which were tied together with narrow strips of bark or root fibers, to form a dome shape

- the frame was covered with woven mats or barks, then was firmly tied to the frames

- light birch bark were used as covers in the summer and heavy elm or walnut bark was used in the winter

Changing Climate

- tribes lived in one designated location, but it was common for them to move within that region, depending on the season

- during the spring and summer they would shift their homes closer to the water so that they may be able to fish with more ease

- while in the autumn and winter they would move near the forest so they would be able to hunt for animals

Transportation

- on land Algonkians generally walked, but they traveled by canoes in the water

- they had two types of canoes - the dugout and birch bark, which were made from hollowing whole trees

Clothing

- clothing simple yet sturdy

- during summer men wore only a deerskin loincloth

- women wore an apron or a long wraparound skirt made form the same material

- when weather became colder the Algonkian added skin shirts, fur robes, leggings and feather clocks

- they also greased the bodies to ward off insects in the summer and keep warm in winter

Mode of Substance

- Algonkians lived too far north and outside the rice ring for agriculture

- they were mainly semi-nomadie bands of hunter -gathers

- some southern bands began growing crops in 17th century

- they hunted animals using the nich of projectile points made from flints

- they were best identified for their skills as hunters who made the best traps and snares, the traps and snares come in many different forms and changed with each season

- among the animals hunted were deers, moose, beavers, cariboues, elks and bears.

- during the summer groups would gather to fish and socialize

- when winter came they separated into small hunting camps of extended families

- due to ...

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...ench Firearms in 1610

- in exchange for the fur the Algonkians received steel weapons from the French which they used to drive the Mohawks far south of the St. Lawrence River

- by 1614 the French shifted their interest on the fur trade from the Algonkins to the Hurons and the Algonkians were reduced to second partners, though they remained in business with the French

- Algonkians after the Mohawks gained support of the Dutch and had access to European's weapons lost battles and pretty much went out of site as far as the French concerned

- eventually Algonkian set fur trading post along the north end of the Ottawa Valley

- the Algonkian remained important allies to the French until the French and Indian war (1755 - 63)

- once French were defeated and the British took over, they choose made allies with Iroquosi over the Algonkian

- although Algonkians fought along side with the British in the American Revolution in (1775 -83), following the war they were moved out of their homelands to make room for new communes.

- finally the Canadian government established ten reserves for the Algonkians to live in but this was only a tiny portion of what once was their original homeland,