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Theme:! THE ORGINS OF ABORIGINALS IN NORTH AMERICA!

What are the TWO theories of migration?

! It is believed that nomadic hunters first arrived in the Americas ! ~ 30 000 years ago. HOW?

! Theory 1: ! BERING STRAIT HYPOTHESIS:! ! ! They migrated to N. America by crossing a land-bridge ! ! ! connecting Asia to N. America during the last ice age.

! Theory 2:! MARITIME COASTAL ROUTE:! ! ! They migrated to N. America by following the coastline in ! ! ! boats.

It is believed that these groups settled in the St. Lawrence valley ~ 12 000 years ago.

Prepared by C. Drakopoulos

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Theme: ! ABORIGINALS: SOCIAL, POLITICAL & ECONOMIC STRUCTURES

Quebec’s Aboriginal nations can be classified into 3 linguistic families:

• Iroquois [Iroquoian]• Algonquians [Algonquian]• Inuits [Inuktitut]

How was their society organized? [clue: M.I.S.P.A.N.P.I.N]

IROQUOIS [i.e.: Mohawk]!! ALGONKIANS [i.e.: Cree]! ! INUITSmatriarchy! ! ! ! patriarchy! ! ! ! patriarchysedentary! ! ! ! nomadic! ! ! ! nomadiclonghouses! ! ! ! wigwams! ! ! ! igloos/tentsagriculture, hunting, fishing! hunting, gathering, fishing!! hunting/fishSt. Lawrence Lowlands! ! Eastern Subarctic! ! ! Arctic

What elements did they have in common?

• hunting & fishing• canoes as means of transportation• belief in life after death• clothing made from animal skins

Prepared by C. Drakopoulos

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Theme: ! THE ROLE OF NATURE & SPIRITUALITY

Aboriginals greatly respected nature since it ensured their subsistence. Their conception of the world revolved around:

• rituals/ceremonies to mark the change of seasons• ANIMISM [the belief that all elements of nature have a soul]• wearing AMULETS [to attract good spirits or ward off evil]• mythology [i.e.: The Three Sisters: corn, squash and beans]

!

The real world and the spiritual world were very much interconnected as well:

• DREAMS were a way for spirits to communicate with the living• SHAMANS held superior powers that enabled them to communicate

! with spirits• SACRED OBJECTS were used to connect to the spirit world [peace

! pipe, drums]

Which qualities/attitudes/behaviors did Aboriginals place importance on?

• BRAVERY [in war, childbirth]• GIFT GIVING [as a means of uniting people]• ELOQUENCE [the ability to speak well was crucial since Aboriginals

! had no writing]

Prepared by C. Drakopoulos