In 1500, there were about 70 000 Algonquians in Eastern Canada. By comparing the size of the territoryA territory is an area of land, or sometimes of sea, that we can say “belongs”… they occupied and their numbers, we can imagine they were scattered across their lands. It is difficult to know exactly how many Algonquian people there were. Why? Because they did not do censuses as we do today or as the Incas in South America did at that time.
A group of clans
The Algonquians were Indigenous peoples who shared similar languages, but who did not form a single, united group. Several soverign nations made and continue to make up the Algonquian language familyA language family is a group of languages related through descent from a common ancestral language…. The nations that belonged to the Algonquian people often had similar languages, habits, way of life, however, each nation has and continues to have its distinct histories and culture. In general, each nation was made up of a few bands, which were groups of 35 to 75 people from two or three families. Around 2020, the following Nations that belong to the Algonquian language familyA language family is a group of languages related through descent from a common ancestral language… have communities in Quebec: the W8banaki(Abenaki), the Algonquin (Anishinabeg), the Atikamekw, the Eeyou (Cree), the Innu, the Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk (Maliseet), the Mi’kmaq, and the Naskapi Nations.
Note: We have tried to use the self-identified names of Indigenous Nations with communities in province Quebec. The name(s) that English and French settlers have used to refer to members of each Nation are in brackets. We encourage you to use and teach others the self-identified names of Indigenous Nations.
Important concepts & Big ideas
PopulationPopulation comes from the Latin populus, meaning “the people.” We say population when we talk about a group…
Population densityPopulation density is how many people live in a specific area. Usually, we compare population densities…
TerritoryA territory is an area of land, or sometimes of sea, that we can say “belongs”…
CensusA questionnaire or survey of an area to find out how many people live there
Clan systemA clan is a group of people that are united by actual or perceived kinship, that…
Nation
Language familyA language family is a group of languages related through descent from a common ancestral language…
NomadA nomad is a member of a community of people who live in different locations, moving…
