First Nation - Algonkin PDF

Curriculum Connection Name: ________________________ 38 A1.2, A1.4, A3.3, A3.5 Background The Algonkin First Nation can also be spelled Algonquin and the word means “our...

Curriculum Connection Name: ________________________ 38 A1.2, A1.4, A3.3, A3.5 Background The Algonkin First Nation can also be spelled Algonquin and the word means “our allies”. The Algonkin 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. Multiple families would share these longhouses. Daily Life and Gender Roles The day-to-day life of an Algonkin member depended on how old they were and which gender they were. Children did a lot of the same things you do – play outside with friends and help out around the house. They also enjoyed hunting and fishing with their fathers. The men were responsible for hunting and fishing as well as protecting the community or family in war. Women took care of the children and gathered plants as well as took care of the shelter and the cooking. Food The Algonkin were hunting people. They ate deer, moose, small game, as well as fish. They grew corn, squash, and berries. They used bows and arrows, spears, and traps to hunt their food. Maple syrup was a treat they would enjoy from tree sap that came out of maple trees. Tools and Weapons Algonkin warriors fought with war clubs, spears, and tomahawks. Fisherman would use spears to stab fish from their canoes or through holes in the ice. To hunt larger game like deer, they setup traps by using fences to force deer to move in one direction. Then they would spear the deer as they got closer to them. Clothing The Algonkin women wore long dresses with removable sleeves and the men wore breechcloths and leggings. Both genders wore moccasins on their feet. Some Algonkin warriors shaved their heads, others spiked their hair with grease, and some braided their hair like the women in their community. © Super Simple Sheets supersimplesheets.com