1. FIRST NATIONS PRESENTATION BY: KELSEY VU The People of the Plains

2. LOCATION Picture above- Map of Peoples of the Plains The Peoples of the Plains place was in the more dry area of Canada. It stretched across the southern provinces which are Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. The area was about 2500 miles long and 600 miles at the widest. The western boundary was at the Rocky Mountains to the woodlands of Southeast Manitoba. The cultural region of the People of the Plains was the Plains.

3. ENVIRONMENT Towards the East the area contained rivers and had high grass that covered the prairies and hills. Towards the West had more short grass and had plenty of sage and cacti. Although the plains had common characteristics throughout the land which were flat, dry, many hills, rocky mountains, and many rivers/streams. The climate was continental which meant that the weather in the plains could be very extreme. The People of the Plains could have very hot summers and very harsh winters. For the people to meet their basic needs they were more dependant on the environment. For example they used the heat to their advantage and were very useful of the natural resources around them. Also an important factor in meeting their needs was their clothing Picture above-Tall Grass

4. CLOTHING Picture above- Moccasins Clothing can vary depending on the tradition and personal preference or clothing can even be inspired by dreams/visions. Generally the base of clothing was made out of animal hide which could be deer, antelope, buffalo, elk, and moose. Men wore shirts, breechcloths, full- length leggings and a buffalo robe for extra warmth. For women they wore dresses and short leggings. Ponchos were also worn for warmth. For shoes moccasins were worn and were mad out of moose hide. Every clothing piece was sewn by women and usually they used lace ties to tie everything together. Accessories included belts, headgears and necklaces. The clothing that was made was to help them do everyday things and help them the weather. Since the clothing was made out of animals, their food source was also animals.

5. FOOD For the People of the Plains buffalo (also called bison) was a very important source of food. Bison could be cooked in many different ways like roasted, boiled, dried, or made into pemmican. Pemmican is similar to jerky. It is meat strips that are dried, mixed with buffalo fat and berries and then left to harden on a drying rack. The people also hunted for deer, moose, coyotes, lynx Smaller animals such as rabbits, gophers, and prairie chickens were caught using traps. Although when hunting was poor the people resorted to fishing. Besides meat the people also ate the vegetation around them. For example mushrooms, wild rice, bitter root, onions, turnip, and different types of berries. The food was cooked in many different ways. It could be cooked over an campfires (done by taking a bow that is stuck in the hole of wood and the stick is spun to create smoke), made into soup/stew, or dried. The People of the Plains also made tools to help them in food gathering and for other activities Picture above- Pemmican

6. TECHNOLOGY Picture above- Pipe Tomahawk Tools were made out of buffalo horns, hooves, tails, bones, and sinew. Tools were made for many different reasons such as for hunting, war/peace, and ceremonies. Bows and arrows were made out of strong wood and sharpened stones and were mainly used for hunting. There were also traps for smaller animals. Tools used for war/peace were warrior shields, coup stick, and a pipe tomahawk. Warrior shields were made out of toughed hide and had a personal symbol on the front that was sacred to the person. A coup stick was used to touch an enemy which symbolized bravery. A pip tomahawk was a weapon but also could be used to smoke tobacco; this was also a peace pipe. For ceremonies a tomahawk would be used for peace.

7. SHELTER The homes that the People of the Plains made were called tipis Tipis consisted of pine poles and buffalo hide. These shelters kept the people very comfortable but also was very durable against the weather. For example it kept them cool in the summer but also gave heat in the winter. Tipis could also designed on the outsides and could vary from designs of humans, animals and bird events. The inside had a circular floor which represented the cycle of nature, earth, sky, seasons, and life itself. The tipis were set up by the women and took them less than hour to do so. To set them up the women would lean the poles against each other and the buffalo hide would be laid over it and sewn. Although the poles were placed in a certain way in order for the interior to have lots of room but also making sure the poles were very sturdy. Once the entire tipi was set up large, heavy rocks would be placed at the bottom of the tipi in order for shelter to stay and not blow away. Picture above- Tipi

8. Bibliography Book: The Plains Indians by Colin F. Taylor Ph.D Published by Salamander Books Limited Publishing Date: 1994 Website www.nativesofcanada.tripod.com/id6.html Title: The Peoples of The Plains Author: Jessica Kaylnn Publishing Date: 2004 www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/aborignial-people-plains/ Title: Aboriginal People: Plains Author: Ted J. Brasser Publishing Date: 02/22/09 firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_groups/fp_plains1.html Title: First Peoples of Canada Before Contact Menu Author: Melissa Bremer, Anna Sajecki, & Heather Findlay Publishing Date: 2007 www.aitc.sk.ca/saskschools/firstnations/ Title: PLAINS FIRST NATIONS traditional way of life (clothing, tipi, hunting, bison, food, transportation, traditions, family life, contributions Author: J. Giannetta Publishing Date: July 2011

9. Bibliography Picture: http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/images/firstnations/teachers_guide/plains/plain s_map.jpg http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/images/firstnations/teachers_guide/plains/plain s_map.jpg http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/images/firstnations/teachers_guide/plains/moc casins.jpg http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/images/firstnations/teachers_guide/plains/moc casins.jpg http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/images/firstnations/teachers_guide/plains/pipet omahawk.jpg http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/images/firstnations/teachers_guide/plains/pipet omahawk.jpg http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/images/firstnations/teachers_guide/plains/envi ronmentprairies.jpg http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/images/firstnations/teachers_guide/plains/envi ronmentprairies.jpg http://www.playingwithfireandwater.com/.a/6a00e54fcc29da88340120a753dec 6970b-500wi http://www.playingwithfireandwater.com/.a/6a00e54fcc29da88340120a753dec 6970b-500wi http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/images/firstnations/teachers_guide/plains/deco ratedtipi.jpg http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/images/firstnations/teachers_guide/plains/deco ratedtipi.jpg