www.first-nations.info
www.first-nations.info
There are nine cultural regions found within the borders of what is now Canada. Within each cultural region, there are additional First Nation Cultures based on linguistic divisions first defined by the ethnologist and linguist Edward Sapir in 1910.
Sapir’s geographical framework was adopted by the Smithsonian Institution’s 1978 Handbook of North American Indians, and continue to be used widely in scholarship.
The Handbook states that these categories are “used in organizing and referring to information about contiguous groups that are or were similar in culture and history,” but it is important to note that these delineations are not concrete, and neighbouring peoples always share some similarities and some differences.
These cultural groupings are fluid and often intermixed. In addition, contemporary Aboriginal peoples may live far from their ancestral homelands, and indeed may form new communities rooted in urban centers rather than traditional lands.
These cultural areas are massive and generalized; what is true of a part is not always true of the whole. The articles in this section are intended to give a brief, generalized overview of First Nations that share a common historical and linguistic background.
The Eagle feather is the most sacred and honoured gift given to an individual. Respect is key in relation to Eagle feathers. Only certain people are able to take Eagle feathers from the Eagle.…Continue to What is the Protocol for Eagle feathers?
It is customary among Iroquois people, to begin each meeting or gathering with the Ohenten Kariwatekwen or Thanksgiving Address. In this greeting, they acknowledge the contributions of all elements of creation and say thank you. The end of each meeting is closed with similar words.…Continue to Ohenten Kariwatekwen, A Prayer of Thanks Giving
The Kaswentha or Two Row Wampum is a treaty of respect for the dignity and integrity of the other nation, and stresses the importance of non-interference of one nation in the business of the other. The early principles established in……Continue to The Kaswentha (Two Row Wampum) Belt
The Caribou Inuit, also known as Kivallirmiut, live in the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut, which consists of the portion of the mainland to the west of Hudson Bay.…Continue to Caribou Inuit (Kivallirmiut)
The Ungava Inuit, or Nunavimmiut, live along the shores of Ungava Bay, on the south shore of Hudson Strait and on the eastern coast of Hudson Bay.…Continue to Ungava Inuit (Nunavimmiut)
The Netsilik Inuit, or Netsilingmiut, are one of several groups of Inuit who live on the Arctic coast of Canada west of Hudson Bay.…Continue to Netsilik Inuit (Netsilingmiut)
The Mackenzie Inuit, or Inuvialuit, originally occupied the western Canadian arctic coast from Barter Island in the west to Cape Bathurst in the east, as well as the northern portion of the Mackenzie River Delta.…Continue to Mackenzie Inuit (Inuvialuit)
The Labrador Inuit, or Labradormiut, are descendants of the pre-historic Thule people and have historically occupied most of the Atlantic coast of Northern Labrador.…Continue to Labrador Inuit (Labradormiut)
The Iglulik Inuit, or Iglulingmuit, are known by the name of an important settlement site (Iglulik) which translates to “it has houses.”…Continue to Iglulik Inuit (Iglulingmuit)
The Inuinnait, also known as the Copper Inuit because of their extensive use of artifacts made from the native copper deposits of the region, originally occupied Banks and Victoria islands and the adjacent mainland region of the central Canadian Arctic.…Continue to Copper Inuit (Inuinnait)
The Baffin Island Inuit live on Baffin Island, the largest island in the Arctic Archipelago and in the territory of Nunavut.…Continue to Baffin Island Inuit
Kabloona is an Inuktitut term or name given by Inuit to non-Inuit who are long or short term residents in northern communities.…Continue to Kabloona is an Inuktitut name given by Inuit to non-Inuit