1. Chapter 1 The Land

2. Main territories of several B.C. First Nations
The territories of many First Nations of B.C. are based on the boundaries formed by watersheds.
Watershed:
All the land drained by a particular river or lake; a drainage basin.

3. Traditional territory Norkam school is located on.

4. Major First Nations group within each region of B.C.
Coast: Tlingit, Nisga’a, Haida, Haisla, Tsimshian, Kwakwaka’wakw, Nuu-chah-nulth
Northern Interior: Gitxsan, Dakelh, Tsilhqot’in
Northeast: Dene-thah, Dunne-za
Southern Interior: Secwepemc, Okanagan

5. Environment for Coastal First Nations
wet, mild climate
temperate rain forests
coniferous trees - western red cedar
mountains rise out of the ocean
many islands
major rivers: Nass, Skeena, Dean, Bella Coola, Squamish
fjords provide rich habitats
southern coast has a drier climate

6. Resources for Coastal First Nations
Forest: cedar, huckleberry, salal, salmonberry, licorice fern, devil’s club, camas bulb
Ocean: salmon, oolichan, halibut, sole, cod, red snapper, herring, shellfish, seaweed
oolichan: small fish important for its oil. Spawns in early spring - first harvest of the year.
Animals: black bear, black- tailed deer, river otter, mink, wolverine, marten

7. Traditional settlement pattern for Coastal First Nations
organized in resource-use units of extended families (house group)
had a number of territories that provided resources throughout the year (salmon fishing, hunting, berry)
each group had a hereditary chief (tribes)
lived together in one large winter village
extended family group inherited the territory

8. Lifestyle pattern for Coastal First Nations
highly structured societies (hierarchy of chiefs, nobles, commoners, slaves
followed a seasonal round - moved from location to location as resources became available
winters in large villages of cedar longhouses (feasts, potlatches)
spring - moved to spring resource camps (oolichan)
summer - salmon camps
Nuu-chah-nulth (whale hunting)

9. Environment for Southern Interior First Nations
mountains, valleys, rivers (Fraser and Columbia) and lakes
dry climate; wide range of seasonal temperatures
hottest and driest region of BC
forests of pine, dry grasslands
desert

10. Resources for Southern Interior First Nations
diversity in plant and animal life
Important foods: berries, camas bulbs, “wild potatoes”, bitter-root
Trade items: bitter- root, camas bulbs, Indian hemp fibre, dried berries, tobacco
Animals: salmon, deer, elk, and moose

11. Traditional settlement pattern for Southern Interior First Nations
Flexible governing systems, democratic, no class system
Family groups associated together (band)
Head chief as leader, consulted with Elders; position either hereditary, usually determined patrilineally, or elected
winter villages beside major rivers or lakes (pit houses)

12. Lifestyle pattern for Southern Interior First Nations
Seasonal round:
spring - gather the green shoots of plants
summer - berries and wild potatoes
late summer - salmon (summer lodges)
fall - hunting for animals

13. Environment for the Northeast First Nations
along the Peace River, separated by the Rocky Mountains, Liard River watershed
foothills of the Rockies, the muskeg of the north, prairies of the east
Continental climate creates wide seasonal temperature range

14. Resources for the Northeast First Nations
Large mammals: moose (MAIN RESOURCE), elk, caribou, mule deer, grizzly and black bear
Beaver
Wood bison in the past
Fish: trout, Arctic grayling, whitefish, northern pike

15. Highly mobile lives as to follow large game animals
Traditional settlement and lifestyle pattern for Northeast First Nations
Settlement:
Highly mobile lives as to follow large game animals
Lifestyle:
Athapaskan language
Focus on hunting large game

16. Environment for Northern Interior First Nations
boreal forest- spruce and fir trees
cold climate with low precipitation
Harsh climate leads to less diversity of plants and low population
mountains, plateaus, and lakes
muskeg / peat bogs
cold winters and warm summers
Fraser and Skeena rivers

17. Resources for Northern Interior First Nations
moose
caribou in northern areas
mule deer in southern plateaus
cougars, black bears, coyotes, wolves
beaver in ponds and porcupines

18. Traditional settlement pattern for Northern Interior First Nations
Flexible society - basic social unit was the extended family, which moved about during the year according to the season and the availability of game.
Mobile society ready to hunt, fish, and trap to gather resources as they travelled throughout a large territory

19. Lifestyle pattern for Northern Interior First Nations
Athapaskan language
Dakelh society was more structured: clan and potlatch system regulated its resource territories