Gr 5 Social Studies- Indigenous People of Canada

Clothing

• Inuit people wear thick and warm clothing made from animal furs to survive the cold temperatures.
• They make jackets, pants, shirts, and boots from caribou and seal skin.
• Anoraks are a type of jacket made from caribou and seal skin, and are lined with fur from foxes, polar bears, and rabbits for extra warmth.

Transportation

• Inuit people use dog sleds called qamutiks to travel large distances on land.
• Qamutiks are made from whale bones and wood.
• They use strong dogs, originally bred from wolves and dogs, which eventually became the husky breed.
• On water, they use kayaks for hunting and umiaqs (long boats similar to canoes) for getting around.

Hunting

• Inuit people hunt for food because they cannot farm due to the cold temperatures.
• They use harpoons to hunt seals, walruses, and bowhead whales.
• They also eat wild berries and fish.
• Their high-fat diet gives them the energy they need to survive the cold temperatures.

Governance

• Inuit people live in small, far-apart communities in Nunavut.
• They elect 19 people, who then choose the government leader and ministers.
• The government leader works with the Canadian government to ensure the Inuit people have a voice in Canada.

The Haudenosaunee Confederacy

• Also known as the Iroquois Confederacy or the League of Five Nations
• Means "people of the long house"

Structure and Composition

• A peaceful uniting of five nations under one government
• Originally consisted of five First Nations: Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas
• Later joined by the Tuscarora, becoming the Six Nations

Founding and Principles

• Founded by the prophet known as the Peacemaker, sent by the Creator
• Aimed to spread the Kariwiio, or good mind, and promote peace
• Worked with Hiawatha to teach the laws of peace to the Haudenosaunee
• Goal was to stop fighting between the 5 nations and promote unity and cooperation

Haudenosaunee Society

• The Haudenosaunee people used a clan system, where each First Nation was divided into clans, led by clan mothers.
• Each clan had its own longhouse, identifiable by an animal symbol (e.g., bear, wolf, turtle, etc.).
• Multiple generations lived together in one longhouse, expanding as families grew.
• Small Haudenosaunee villages had 4-5 longhouses, while large villages had 50 or more.
• A single longhouse could have 50-60 people living together.

Role of Haudenosaunee Women

• Women were equally respected as men in Haudenosaunee society.
• Clan Mothers led the clans and passed their title to female relatives when they passed away.
• Clan Mothers chose the chief and made decisions for the people, including when to hold ceremonies and what food to prepare.
• Women were responsible for giving birth, making them responsible for the future generations.
• When a woman got married, her husband would move into her family's longhouse, and their children belonged to her clan.
• Women took care of plants, growing corn, beans, and squash (the "Three Sisters" crops) that sustained the Haudenosaunee people.

Role of Haudenosaunee Men

• Men served as Chiefs and were responsible for serving on the Grand Council, the Haudenosaunee government.
• Men were in charge of hunting, fishing, cutting down trees for longhouses and canoes, and fighting wars against other nations.
• While women often decided whether to go to war, men fought the battles.

Algonkin First Nation

• The Algonkin First Nation can also be spelled Algonquin, and the word means "our allies".
• They lived in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region in southern Ontario and Quebec.

Shelter

• Most Algonkin lived in wigwams, which are domed-shaped and smaller shelters often made of birch bark.
• Only one family lived in each wigwam.
• Some Algonkin lived in longhouses, which were larger shelters made of birch bark, and multiple families would share these longhouses.

Daily Life and Gender Roles

• A person's daily life depended on their age and gender.
• Children played outside with friends and helped out around the house.
• Boys learned hunting and fishing skills from their fathers.
• Men were responsible for hunting, fishing, and protecting the community or family in war.
• Women took care of the children, gathered plants, and managed the shelter and cooking.

Food

• The Algonkin were hunting people and ate deer, moose, small game, and fish.
• They also grew corn, squash, and berries.
• They used bows and arrows, spears, and traps to hunt.
• Maple syrup was a treat made from tree sap from maple trees.

Tools and Weapons

• Algonkin warriors fought with war clubs, spears, and tomahawks.
• Fishermen used spears to stab fish from canoes or through holes in the ice.
• To hunt larger game like deer, they set up traps using fences to direct deer movement and then speared them as they approached.

Algonkin First Nation

• The Algonkin First Nation can also be spelled Algonquin, and the word means "our allies".
• They lived in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region in southern Ontario and Quebec.

Shelter

• Most Algonkin lived in wigwams, which are domed-shaped and smaller shelters often made of birch bark.
• Only one family lived in each wigwam.
• Some Algonkin lived in longhouses, which were larger shelters made of birch bark, and multiple families would share these longhouses.

Daily Life and Gender Roles

• A person's daily life depended on their age and gender.
• Children played outside with friends and helped out around the house.
• Boys learned hunting and fishing skills from their fathers.
• Men were responsible for hunting, fishing, and protecting the community or family in war.
• Women took care of the children, gathered plants, and managed the shelter and cooking.

Food

• The Algonkin were hunting people and ate deer, moose, small game, and fish.
• They also grew corn, squash, and berries.
• They used bows and arrows, spears, and traps to hunt.
• Maple syrup was a treat made from tree sap from maple trees.

Tools and Weapons

• Algonkin warriors fought with war clubs, spears, and tomahawks.
• Fishermen used spears to stab fish from canoes or through holes in the ice.
• To hunt larger game like deer, they set up traps using fences to direct deer movement and then speared them as they approached.

The Grand Council

• The Grand Council is a meeting where the 6 nations come together to discuss issues that affect them.
• Each nation has a role in the meeting, with the Onondaga responsible for opening the Council as the Fire Keepers.
• The Mohawk and Seneca are known as the Elder Brothers, while the Oneida and Cayuga are known as the Younger Brothers.

Process of Decision Making

• A speaker is chosen from the Mohawk, Onondaga, or Seneca nations to hold the position for the day, with a new speaker chosen the next day.
• The speaker is advised by their clan mother and faith keepers, who sit behind them during the meeting.
• The speaker calmly explains their nation's stance, while other chiefs listen and ask questions for clarification.
• If a consensus is reached, the next issue can be brought forward; if not, the issue may be set aside for further consideration.
• This process is an example of democracy in action, where everyone in the community has a voice in decision-making.

The Haudenosaunee Confederacy

• The Chiefs sat beneath the Tree of Peace, symbolizing the unity of the Confederacy.
• Everyone had a voice in the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, making it a democratic system.

The Mohawk Nation

• The name "Mohawk" means "man-eaters", given by their enemies, the Algonkin, reflecting their toughness.
• The Mohawk nation is part of the Haudenosaunee, which means "Six Nations".
• The Mohawk people still exist today.

Government

• The Mohawk nation is part of the Grand Council, a form of government.
• Mohawk chiefs are chosen by Mohawk clan mothers.
• Chiefs make decisions for the Mohawk people.
• The Haudenosaunee's form of government influenced the founding of Canada's government.

Shelter

• The Mohawk people lived in Longhouses, permanent structures made of wood and covered with elm bark.
• Longhouses could be up to a hundred feet long and house multiple families (up to 60 people).

Gender Roles

• Mohawk men were in charge of hunting, trading, and war.
• Mohawk women were in charge of farming, property, and the family.
• Women managed the clan's day-to-day activities, but the chief (leader) was always a man.
• Chiefs made military decisions and trade agreements.
• Both genders participated in storytelling, artwork, music, and providing medicine.

Hobbies and Games

• Children played with dolls and toys.
• Boys enjoyed a game of throwing a dart through a moving hoop.
• Girls liked playing with cornhusk dolls.
• Lacrosse was popular among children and young adults.