BY:FATOS PRISTINE

1. How did the land provide for the Wendat people? BY:FATOS PRISTINE

2. Location • The Wendat lived in two areas the Saint Lawrence River and the community was called Wendake the second area was north and west of lake Simcoe and south and east of Georgian Bay and 70% percent of this area was arable land.

3. Tribes and clans • The Huron Wendat Nation was an association of Iroquian speaking groups. They were divided into four main tribes: • •  The Bear Tribe (Attignawantan) was the largest of the tribes accounting for almost half the Wendat population. There were thirteen villages of the Bear clan in 1640. • •  The Cord Tribe (Attigneenongnahac) lived between the Sturgeon and Coldwater Rivers, in the Mount St. Louis Ridge. They lived in three main villages. Like the Bear, they were one of the oldest tribes. • •  The Rock Tribe (Arendarhonon) was located between Coldwater and Orillia. They had four villages, with the main village of Cahiague. • •  The Deer Tribe (Tahontaenrat) was the last tribe to enter Wendake. They lived in the area north of Orr Lake. • The People of the Bog (Ataronchrono) were not recognized in the confederacy, but were represented by the people of the Bear Tribe. They are thought to have been made up of clan segments from the Bear Tribe and perhaps some refugees fleeing from the Seneca to the south. • A chief of a clan segment initiated tribal councils. Before travelling to the meeting, each clan would choose their position on the matter to be discussed. All clan segment chiefs would attend an annual confederacy council. They would discuss common war and defense plans, and renew and strengthen ties between nations. For several weeks, usually in the spring, there was dancing, feasting and gift giving.

4. Diet and farming • Gathered food was part of the Huron Wendat diet. Ripe fruits, nuts and berries, bullrush roots and maple sap were all collected and added to the diet. Hemp was used for nets, ropes, and baskets. • The Huron Wendat were farmers who grew corn, beans, and squash. Sixty-five percent of their diet consisted of corn. Dried and shelled, the corn was pounded into flour or sometimes ground between stones. Corn soup (sagamité) was enriched with fish, meat and squash. Unleavened corn bread was baked under hot ashes, with dried fruits and deer meat added. Other items on the Huron Wendat menu included beans, wild berries, nuts and maple syrup. Sunflowers were grown for their oil, used in food and as a body rub.

5. HUNTING • The men hunted fish with nets and weirs. They caught whitefish, trout, sturgeon, pike and catfish. Most of the fish was dried and smoked for later consumption. Hunting season was in the spring and fall. The principle game was deer, prized for both its hide and meat. • The men also hunted beaver with snares, arrows and clubs. The beaver was killed for fur as well as meat and it was a dominant part of the 17th century fur trade. The beaver population was likely exhausted in Wendake by the 1630's. • They also caught deer by driving them into rivers or enclosures, then were shot by a bow and arrow The meat was smoked and mostly used as a main dish at feasts and celebrations. • Huron Wendat hunters also tracked bear with specially trained dogs. Dogs were the only domesticated animals in Huron Wendat society. At certain times dogs were eaten or sacrificed, especially in the winter, when meat was in short supply.

6. Weapons and traps Arrow Club Snare Weirs Bow and Arrow Nets

7. moral • Take what you need and don’t take what you don’t need.