The Algonquin Peoples

1
The Algonquin Peoples
2
Housing

• For most of the year they lived in small huts
  called wigwams. They used fir braches as
  flooring and a strip of leather for the door.

3
Clothing

• The Algonquin mainly used animal skin as
  clothing. Deerskin was used most of the time
  because of its abundance. They also sometimes
  used caribou skin for clothes.

Moccasins made from deer hide
This robe is made from caribou skin
4
Subsistence

• The Algonquin were hunter gatherers, which meant
  they relied on edible plants and animals in the
  area where they lived. they caught a variety of
  animals and also grew some plants.

In the winter, the Algonquin often had to move To
follow the animals they lived off of. They were
A nomadic folk and usually lived in
temporary Homes. The most important animal to
them was The deer because they could make
clothing out of it And also eat it.
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Tools And Weapons

• The Algonquin used spears, fishing nets, traps,
  and bow and arrow to hunt animals. They also used
  canoes to for fishing, they made arm-guards to
  protect them while they hunted.

An Algonquin Canoe
Some hunting tools the Algonquin used
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Habitat

• Most of the population is in Quebec and Eastern
  Ontario. Today there are 9 communities in Quebec
  and only 1 in Ontario.
• The Algonquins were a nomadic people and lived
  off the land, traveling with the animals they
  hunted. There are more than 30 different tribes
  just in Canada.

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Cultural Artifacts
This is a talking stick used in some of their
ceremonies
This is a Wampum Belt. They are rectangular and
are made from beads wrapped around wool string.
This is a Regalia. It is a traditional dress they
use for ceremonies and dances.
8
Social Organisation (Kinship)

• The Algonquins were a Patriarchal society which
  means that families were attached by the fathers
  side. The territorial hunting grounds were handed
  down from father to son and the woman would
  always go to stay with her husband.

Grandfather
Grandmother
Father
Mother
Daughter goes to live with her husband
The daughter will leave the family to join her
husband
Son
Wife
Daughter
The Sons wife will move into the family
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Leadership and Government
The title of chief was also handed down. However,
the chief did not impose his rules on others, he
rather acted as a spokesperson. Decision making
involved all people and the decisions were not
finalised until a consensus was reached.
In this sense, the workings of the tribe was very
much democratic even if the leader was decided in
a patriarchal manner.
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Customs and Beliefs

• The Algonquians put the fleur-de-lis on their
  baskets as a sign of their friendship with the
  French.
• If I child fell ill, they would be wrapped in
  white deerskin. They believed that the colour
  white could chase away evil spirits and make the
  child feel better.
• The Algonquians also possesed dyes, although they
  were very hard to obtain. They used them only on
  the most special occasions, when they painted
  their faces and bodies.