Aboriginal Economies

Mi’kmaq Land Ownership The concept of land ownership was alien to the Mi’kmaq – native spirituality dictated that no one group or person was given absolute ownership of any land – the land was meant to be shared. The Mi’kmaq respected the laws of nature the council chiefs assigned separate hunting and fishing districts to bands and passed tribal laws to control hunting at different seasons. They respected the assigned hunting and fishing territories and would move around within these Summer camp was near water so they could fish Winter camp was usually in the woods where they could hunt

Lands continued Hunting for pleasure was disrespectful, they only hunted what was necessary for survival and they used all parts of the animal. You were free to travel and live among different bands

Roles Males Hunted Fished Made bows, arrows and lances Made cradle boards, and tobacco pipes Should know how to make shields, fish traps and weirs, canoes, axes and knives Should master the basics of hunting , fishing and preparing food, clothing and shelter

Roles Continued Females Carried game back to camp Transported all camp equipment and set up camp Prepared and preserved food Made birch bark dishes, wove mats from rushes, made clothing and corded snowshoes Fetched water Took care of the children

Trade Economies Trade in aboriginal communities was based, partly on the need for goods found in other areas and partly on establishing and maintaining friendly relations with neighbouring peoples. The exchange of gifts and kindness reinforced alliances and brought prestige to the giver.

Wampum The most frequently traded items were arrowheads, tools, and shells. Aboriginal peoples traded shell beads known as wampum. Wampum was threaded on a string or woven into belts.

Wampum continued For a SOCIETY with no written alphabet, the wampum carried an almost magical/spiritual POWER and INFLUENCE for groups like the Maliseet and the Mi’kmaq people.   Many Aboriginal people in the northeastern part of North America used the wampum as a way of recording and sending messages.

Transportation Technologies The Mik’maq canoe was wide bottomed and raised at both ends with the sides curved upwards in the middle. This design allowed them to canoe far out to sea as well as in shallow streams and even in rapids 3-8 meters long Birch bark over a light wooden frame Could carry several hundred pounds but was light enough for one person to carry Toboggans were used in the winter to carry heavy loads over the snow

Ocean Canoe

World View and Economic Structures Aboriginal Peoples spiritual philosphy reflects a close relationship between their economies and the natural world. Aboriginal peoples believed that nature was a continuous web in which humans were equal, but not superior, to the land, plants, animals, and wat. Most Aboriginal societies practised a lifestyle of sustainable development in which they took from the environment only what they needed in order to survive. This philosophy enabled them to use their resources efficiently and with little waste.