Aboriginal Economies

1. Aboriginal Economies Aboriginal Technologies Geographic Location Trade Economies World View and Economic Structures

2. Geographic Location • The environment of Aboriginals affected the types of technologies and economies that were developed • The environment determined the type of hunting practices, trading routes, and transportation options of the First Peoples

3. Aboriginal Technologies • Aboriginal life was rich and varied • Strong knowledge of plant science (affected agriculture and medicine • 60% of world’s crops were originally developed by First Peoples • Developed sophisticated stone tool technologies and methods of transportation ideally suited to their environment

4. Aboriginal Technologies - Farming • Aboriginal cultures focused mainly on plant science • Developed a variety of corn through genetic selection • Developed sustainable farming techniques • First farmers were the Haudenosaunee • Women were the primary farmers in their society – tending and harvesting crops • Women received and elevated status in this society because of their duties

5. Aboriginal Technologies - Gathering • Most Aboriginal groups gathered edible wild forest products: fruits, nuts, berries, roots, leafy vegetables, herbs, wild rice, nd even tree sap (syrup!!!)

6. Aboriginal Technologies - Medicine • Aboriginal medicines were used to heal both body and mind • Aboriginal medicines would become the basis of western pharmacology • Medicines developed by the Aboriginals cured some European diseases • Several common medicines used to treat several disorders in our society came from the skill and knowledge of Aboriginals – Aspirin is a significant one

7. Aboriginal Technologies - Transportation The canoe • Used for trade, hunting, fishing • Ideal for traveling in the wilderness – very lightweight and durable Sleds, Travois • Used by the Plains People • Pulled by wolves or dogs – later by horses

8. Aboriginal Technologies - Transportation Kayaks • Thule People were nomadic and spent summers on the coast fishing and hunting beluga, walruses, seals and polar bears • They created the kayak or their purposes – stretched seal or caribou skin over bone frame • Also created the umiak for whale hunting

9. Aboriginal Technologies - Transportation • The Thule also developed their kind of sled • Snowshoes are also a notable invention of the Thule people

10. Trade Economies • Part of the motivation for trade among First Peoples was the need for good from other regions (supply and demand) • T was also for establishing friendly relations with neighboring peoples • Trade routes were established in the Americas long before Europeans arrived • Most commonly traded items included arrowheads, tools and shells • After contact with Europeans, Aboriginals began to trade with them and introduced them to their extensive trading routes

11. World View and Economic Structures • Most Aboriginal societies practiced a lifestyle of sustainable development • They only took from the environment what they needed to survive • Their knowledge of natural resources allowed them to use resources with little waste • European lifestyle was different and did not practice sustainable development, but one of land ownership, cultivation, and occupancy

12. Case Study 9 • Please read chapter 7 on Aboriginal Economies and record vocabulary terms. • How has the physical geography of Canada influenced Aboriginal populations, technology, and food? (See map on p.89) • How have Aboriginal peoples made considerable contributions as a result of plant science? (food/ medicine) • What role did “supply and demand” play in establishing Aboriginal trading routes? • Create a comparison chart outlining Aboriginal technologies, the First Nation the developed the technology, and the region these people lived.