The Algonquian TribeThe Algonquian Tribe

Who were the Who were the Algonquians?Algonquians?

• The Algonquian people were The Algonquian people were made up of several different made up of several different tribes : the Adirondecks, tribes : the Adirondecks, Mahicans, Delewares, Mahicans, Delewares, Wappingers, and MontauksWappingers, and Montauks

• They are the most populous They are the most populous and most widespread North and most widespread North American native groups.American native groups.

• The number of tribes were The number of tribes were usually in the hundreds , usually in the hundreds , and within these tribes they and within these tribes they spoke several related spoke several related dialects. dialects.

Where did they live?Where did they live?

The Algonquian The Algonquian People inhabited People inhabited most of the canadian most of the canadian region south of region south of Hudson bay, between Hudson bay, between the rockies and the the rockies and the Atlantic ocean.Atlantic ocean.

The Algonquian housesThe Algonquian houses The algonquians lived in what The algonquians lived in what

were called round houses.were called round houses. The base of the round houses The base of the round houses

were made out of wood, then were made out of wood, then covered with bark, and lastly a covered with bark, and lastly a layer of thatch or dried grass was layer of thatch or dried grass was added.added.

There was a small hole at the top There was a small hole at the top which allowed smoke from their which allowed smoke from their fires to escape.fires to escape.

There was only one opening at There was only one opening at the front of the round house, and the front of the round house, and only one family lived in each one.only one family lived in each one.

TravelingTraveling

• In winter, the Algonquians In winter, the Algonquians used snow shoes and used snow shoes and tobaggans to travel.tobaggans to travel.

• From spring through fall, From spring through fall, they used birchbark they used birchbark canoes and traveled by canoes and traveled by foot. foot.

ClothingClothing• The Algonquins’ clothing The Algonquins’ clothing

was very simple but sturdy. was very simple but sturdy. In the summer the men wore In the summer the men wore only a deerskin loincloth. only a deerskin loincloth. The women wore an The women wore an apronapron or or a long wraparound skirt a long wraparound skirt made of the same material. made of the same material.

• Beautifully beaded soft sole Beautifully beaded soft sole moccasins completed the moccasins completed the outfit. outfit.

• When the weather was When the weather was colder they added skin colder they added skin shirts, fur robes, leggings shirts, fur robes, leggings and feather cloaks decorated and feather cloaks decorated with porcupine quills and with porcupine quills and seashells over the loincloth.seashells over the loincloth.

CultureCulture Wampum belts and necklaces were Wampum belts and necklaces were

made from wampum beads. These made from wampum beads. These beads were actually white and beads were actually white and purple shells. purple shells.

Wampum was used as money Wampum was used as money between white men and Indians. between white men and Indians.

Wampum belts were used as a Wampum belts were used as a form of communication between form of communication between Indian tribes. Indians created Indian tribes. Indians created Wampum belts with pictures Wampum belts with pictures showing the reason it was made. showing the reason it was made.

Indian messengers carried Indian messengers carried wampum belts when going to other wampum belts when going to other tribes. tribes.

The Algonquians believed in witchcraft . They embraced in witchcraft to explain many of the illnesses that had come to their land. The Algonquians would dance around a great fire, to perform this ritual.

The Algonquians believed that the suffering and misfortune were caused by spirits who were invoked for destructive ends by evil-intentioned people.

This ritual would help the Algonquians cope with cultural disorientation, social stress, and widespread suffereing and death caused by colonization

Location Algonquians About Algonquians Clothing Wampum Travel Witchcraft Picture Groups Canoe picture