Indigenous peoples of the Subarctic

This article is about sub-arctic North America. For indigenous peoples of sub-arctic Russia, see Indigenous peoples of Siberia.
Map showing regions of North America

Indigenous peoples of the Subarctic are the aboriginal peoples who live in the Subarctic regions of the Americas, located south of the true Arctic. This region includes the interior of Alaska, the Western Subarctic or western Canadian Shield and Mackenzie River drainage area, and the Eastern Subarctic or Eastern Canadian Shield.[1] Peoples of subarctic Siberia and Greenland are sometimes included in the subarctic; however, Greenlandic Inuit are usually classified as Indigenous peoples of the Arctic.

Languages

Native subarctic peoples have over 30 languages, falling into two major language families: Algonquian and Athapaskan.[2] Algonquian peoples tend to live in the east, while Athapaskan peoples live more in the west.[1]

Arts and cultures

Caribou has traditionally played a central role in Subarctic culture. Besides providing food, caribou provides clothing, shelter, and tools, such as the babiche bag, made of caribou rawhide. Moosehair embroidery and porcupine quill embroidery are worked onto hides and birchbark. After introduction by Europeans, glass beads became popular and are sewn into floral designs.[1] Additionally, some cultures practiced agriculture, alongside hunting and gathering.

List of indigenous peoples of the Subarctic

Distribution of Cree peoples within Canada
Tłı̨chǫ camp on the shore of Slave Lake at Fort Resolution, Northwest Territory, 1907

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Native Art." The Canadian Encyclopedia. (retrieved 29 Dec 2010)
  2. ↑ Corbett, Steve. "Native Peoples of the Subarctic." Johnson County Community College. (retrieved 21 Nov 2010)
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