The First Occupants

How was the culture of the First Occupants expressed?

Mr. Thompson – History 404

The First Occupants

What is the main difference between Western cultures (Europe) and the indigenous North American cultures?

How are we doing in this regard?

The main elements of Amerindian Culture: SpiritualityGenerosity DreamsSpoken word

Since 10 000 B.C.

The Circle of Life - immortality of the soul.

Burial ObjectsDreamsThe Shaman

Expressing Spirituality

Amerindian traditions that are still practiced today:

Music – heavily based on drums and singing

Dancing – specific dances for specific rituals

Food – changing with the seasonsThe “Sweat-Lodge” – communication

with the spiritshttp://www.kahnawakepowwow.com/

Expressing Spirituality

Generosity and the importance of trade.

The influence of gifts and trades.

Making Treaties:

Wampum Belts (Bead Belts)Smoking of Tobacco (Peace-Pipe)

Social Relationships

Education.

Social Pressure – a true communist society.

Wars and interdependence

Social Relationships

The Arrival of the French: the trading of goods copper pots, iron tools, knives, tissues, bread,

alcohol.Impact on the Amerindian way of life

The French believed…Missionaries and the sedentary

Huron-Wendat.

The French and Amerindians

The French Fur Traders and Amerindian cultureThe Traders started to adopt Amerindian ways

The Impact of the Fur Trade? Amerindian dependence on European goods

Conclusion?Thus, the relationship the Amerindians had

with their surroundings for almost 10 000 years, started to deteriorate.

The French and Amerindians

Far from the Mother Country… The French who lived in New France were

slowly transformed.

Amerindian objects that became a part of French Canadian culture: Canoes, toboggans, snowshoes, tobacco…

Conclusion?A new culture was born that was neither

Amerindian nor European.

The French and Amerindians

In either the Green or Red book- Find an Amerindian tradition that interests you and do some more research on it:Tell me more about your chosen tradition…Which nation/tribe does it come from?How does the tradition fit into the cultural

fabric of that tribe?Has it died? Or is it still around? Explain.DO NOT FORGET TO INCLUDE YOUR

SOURCES!

Activity #1

Thank-You.