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 territory for hunting, fishing and gathering. Each clan consisted of family members who had the same ancestors. 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.
Author: Alexandre Lanoix | Version françaiseSee also: Traces of the past: Oh, what type of men are the Europeans!
Important concepts and big ideas:
[glossary slug=’clansystem’]
[glossary slug=’languagefamily’]
[glossary slug=’nation’]
[glossary slug=’politicalstructure’]
[glossary slug=’socialstructure’]
[glossary slug=’warfare’]
Concepts importants et idées :
Système de clansA clan is a group of people that are united by actual or perceived kinship, that is they are related by birth or marriage, etc. Clan systems are often used to determine how things are passed down through generations. More | Famille linguistique | Nation | Structure politique | Structure social | Guerre