The Subarctic Natives

1. The Subarctic Natives

2. The Subarctic Natives • The subarctic natives were nomads living in a forbidding climate • they had to endure great famines and some of the coldest winters in Canada • yet somehow these people survived and adapted to form cultures

3. Environment • The environment these people had to endure was incredibly harsh and violent • winters were extremely cold and windy • and if that wasn’t enough, food was scarce and they had to follow their pray across the country

4. Landforms and Vegetation • No mountains, a flat cold desert • tundra area with no trees and little vegetation • Most vegetation is moss, lichens and low-growing shrubs

5. Animal Habitats and Food • People often hunted moose because they were plentiful in the Mackenzie river basin • the caribou however would leave the bushlands inhabited by the Dogrib to go north with the Dogrib in pursuit • also plentiful were woodland and barren-ground caribou as well as mountain sheep

6. Tools and Weapons • A common weapon for hunting was a bow and arrows • another weapon used was a spear • the Kutchin bow could fell a target at 30 meters while the hare, Yellowknife and Dogrib used bows of approximately 1.5 meters in length • some arrows were blunt so as to stun prey

7. Clothing • Clothing was usually made of caribou, moose, deer or sheep skin • it took 10 pelts to make a complete outfit for one man • men essentially wore wide shirts that hung to the knees and were decorated with rows of fringe

8. Dwellings • The homes of the subarctic natives consisted of several large poles laid against each other at equal lengths and covered with hide or birchbark • in this way a conical or domelike structure is formed

9. Religions and Beliefs • The natives believed that their creator Kitche Manito created rock, fire, wind, then water • And after he had made the stars, planets and other creatures, he made Man • One time the Earth flooded and Kitche Manito blew on some dirt and the Earth was revived

10. Burial Customs • First the body was wrapped in birch bark and placed on a platform for four days • The body was then buried with its feet pointing west (ningabian) • A tombstone was then carved with the family symbol and turned upside down to identify that the person was dead • Then a great feast was held

11. Shamans and Dreams • Shamans were people who were in contact with spirits • It was believed that dreams were advice and knowledge from spiritual guardians in animal form

12. Politics • People were organized in two groups: local bands and regional bands • Local bands consisted of 2 to 12 extended families and contained from 10 to 75 people • A regional band was made up of two local bands that joined to exploit food or other resources • There was no political infrastructure except for family organization and earned superiority, though a wise man would in most cases assume a leadership role

13. Today • Today, centuries later, there are little or no natives left • This is because most of them have been forced onto reserves and committed suicide • A magnificent civilization has drawn to a close

14. Bibliography • Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia. Microsoft Corporation, 1997 • http://www.wsd1.org/riverview/students/309/suba.htm • http://www.cabrillo.cc.ca.us/~crsmith/noamer_subarctic.html • http://www.batashoemuseum.ca/shoesections/subarctic.html • http://w1.1546.telia.com/~u154601485/frame_CanadaIndianArts.htm • http://www.canadianheritage.org/galleries/firstnations0600.htm • http://www.canadianheritage.org/reproductions/23039.htm