First Nations Pre-Contact

1. First Nations Pre-Contact Grade 6 Social Studies

2. What do you think is meant by pre-contact?

3. In what ways do you think the Europeans changed life for the First Nations?

4. Geography • First Nations people lived here for years without political boundaries • Mexico recently made boarders, but in the past they did not have any

6. Geography • There were many different ENVIRONMENTS such asforests, grasslands, mountains, lakes, beaches • Many different WEATHER (wet or dry, cold or hot) • Many different WILD LIFE (many species or else deserted)

7. How do you think the Europeans changed the Geography of North America?

8. Geography • There was no relationship to present day boundaries, they were broken into Arctic, sub- Arctic, Eastern Woodlands, Great Plains, Coastal Pacific, High Plateau. These areas are now shared by USA & CND • First Nations weren’t political; rather they were defined by environmental region they lived in. • They were free to roam as they wished—survival only thing stopping them

9. Use of the Environment • The First Nations used the land to hunt animals for their survival • They used every part of the animal, so nothing would go to waste • In addition to hunting, they searched for plants and vegetation to eat

10. In the Eastern Woodland there were plenty Birch trees that were used to make snowshoes, toboggans, canoes, wigwams, cooking pots • Around the Coast there was salmon, where they would fish for food • In the Prairies there were buffalo—which was used for food, clothes, teepees

11. The First Nations were very spiritual and they lived very close to nature, they learned to identify with trees, animals, and the land • They believed that all living things have souls, this includes plants and animals

12. Task • Reflect on the ways the First Nations treated the environment and on how people treat the environment today • Complete the t-chart to compare and contract the ways the environment was used then, and how it is used now