Among the Algonquian people, political life was organized around nations and bands. Each nation was divided into several clans that were independent of each other. They shared the same language and customs and had a similar way of life, but they each had their own territoryA territory is an area of land, or sometimes of sea, that we can say “belongs”… for hunting, fishing and gathering. Each clan consisted of family members who had the same ancestorsAncestors – An ancestor is a person who is related to someone but lived many years/…. Within each clan were bands of 35 to 75 people from two or three families who travelled together during the winter months.
Wars between nations
Before the arrival of the Europeans, there had been several conflicts between the Indigenous nations. People often went to war to protect their hunting and fishing territories, and the routes they used for trading. They also went to war to avenge the deaths of certain members of their group during earlier wars.
See also: Traces of the past: Oh, what type of men are the Europeans!
Important concepts and big ideas:
Clan systemA clan is a group of people that are united by actual or perceived kinship, that…
Language familyA language family is a group of languages related through descent from a common ancestral language…
Nation
Political structurePolitical structure refers to the way people, groups and institutions interact with each other, within a…
Social structureSocial Structure is the way people in a society are organized into institutions and relationships. It…
WarfareWarfare is when there is a struggle or battles or organized fighting between enemies (which could…
