 The process by which humans occupy a territory that they organize and transform according to their needs.

 The first traces of occupation in what is today Quebec dates back about years.

 Most archeologists believe that humans migrated to North America from Asia over the Beringia land bridge.  About years ago, as the climate was changing, an ice-free corridor opened up and allowed people to travel into the continent.

 New discoveries have cast some doubt on the ice-free corridor theory.  Some researchers think that the climate would have been too hostile for people to pass by that route.  Instead they believe that small goups of people may have come to North America by boat.

 It is very likely that North America’s first settlers came from Asia.  The precise date of their arrival is difficult prove.

 The occupation of the territory of Quebec took place over a very long time.  About years ago, the Laurentian Ice Sheet started to melt.  This caused sea water to flow into the St. Laurence lowlands.  The tops of mountains like Mount St- Hillaire and Rougemont formed islands in the Champlain Sea.

 The sea water eventually receded around years ago.

 The occupation of Quebec took place during 3 distinct periods. › Paleoindian period ( to BCE) › Archaic period (8 000 to BCE) › Woodland period (1 000 BCE to CE)

 This period is when the first occupants arrived in the territory of Quebec.  Ice still covered a large part of the area.  The climate was harsh.  The Champlain Sea was slowly receding, leaving behind the St. Lawrence River and many lakes and rivers.

 Animals came to inhabit the territory and groups of hunter-gatherers came into the territory to hunt the herds of large game animals.  These nomadic groups travelled along waterways and through mountain passes.

 Major change occurred in the landscape and the settlement of the territory.  The end of the glaciation period mean the inhabitable territory increased in size.  The environment became increasingly stable and moving around became seasonal.  Trade networks developed.

 The nomadic populations of the Archaic period were very familiar with the resources of the territory.  The population increased.  Food and tools diversified.

 Trade networks permitted the spread of objects, plants and new techniques.  3 major innovations transformed daily life for Aboriginal populations: › The bow and arrow › Pottery › agriculture

 Bow and arrows improved hunting techniques.  Pottery and cultivation of corn spread into the area from south of the great lakes.  Agriculture lead to increase population in the region.  Gradually groups came together to form organized communities, which lead to the creation of villages.

 About years ago groups of nomadic hunters from Siberia arrived in Arctic Quebec.  They hunted sea mammals (seal, walrus, narwal) and flourished in a very hostile environment due to their hunting techniques.

 They had to be good hunters because of the rarity of vegetation and raw materials.  Around the year CE the arctic experienced another wave of migration from Alaska.  They were the Thule, ancestors of the Inuit.

 The Thule hunted whales and moved around in their kayaks or umiaks.  They also travelled by dogsled.  They used spears, harpoons, and bows and arrows.