Food
Caribou, main food for the Subarctic people.
The rocky soil and the cold, harsh climate of the Subarctic made it an unsuitable area for any kind of agriculture to develop. Thankfully, the various animals inhabiting the region were abundant. Caribou and moose were hunted as the main source of meat. Smaller animals, such as beavers, ducks, geese, hares, porcupine, rabbits, squirrels, swans, mink, puffins, and wolverine, were trapped or hunted too. Almost all tribes caught fish or other sources of food in water, examples being whitefish and jackfish in lakes and arctic graylings and trout in many rivers, and they served as supplement when there was a shortage of meat. Methods of fishing varied from group to group, whether it be catching from a canoe or using ice holes in the winter.
Berries, one of the few vegetative products gathered to eat.
When hunting, different bands did not need to mark their own territory. They naturally kept their distances from each other when necessary, making sure not to hunt in the same area as both groups would suffer from lack of catch. With every hunt, they would leave enough animals behind to breed freely, so that both themselves in the future as well as other hunting groups could always have abundant prey in the area. When little game was caught, however, members of a band split up over surrounding areas to expand their radius of hunting area. What little food obtained was shared among all
members of the group.
Although it was impossible to farm and harvest crops, the Subarctic people gathered different plants and berries, tripe, dandelions, moss, and marigold. Dried berries were stored underground in baskets. Some southern tribes used dried meat, grease or lard, and dried berries to make a trail food called Pemmican, which could easily be preserved over long periods of time and was high on protein.
members of the group.
Although it was impossible to farm and harvest crops, the Subarctic people gathered different plants and berries, tripe, dandelions, moss, and marigold. Dried berries were stored underground in baskets. Some southern tribes used dried meat, grease or lard, and dried berries to make a trail food called Pemmican, which could easily be preserved over long periods of time and was high on protein.
Clothing
Subarctic clothing was made from sources of their food. Since wool was not available to the Natives before European contact, they used animal skins to make their clothes. Women usually took responsibility for the task of skinning, scraping, and smoking the skin, then working the hide to cut, sew, and even decorate it. Sewing was done with bone awls in place of needles, and decorations were accomplished using porcupine quills and moosehair. Later encounters with the European traders brought
needles, silk thread, beads, felt, and cloth.
needles, silk thread, beads, felt, and cloth.
Cree animal hide moccasins.
All clothing was light or mediumweight despite the cold climate, because the travelling Subarctic people did not want heavy loads or clothes to weigh them down when moving. They also had fire available at any time to keep them sufficiently warm. They did wear mitts or gauntlets, hats, and socks for the colder winters. For the coldest winters, up to eight caribou skins could be used for a full winter outfit. Everyone wore moccasins of moose or caribou skin. The special shoes were comfortable and light, but kept the feet warm while letting them retain the feeling of walking without footwear on.
Other fashion included beaver or caribou robes for hunters. People would also wear pendants and ornaments of teeth, claws, stones, ivory, and bones.
Other fashion included beaver or caribou robes for hunters. People would also wear pendants and ornaments of teeth, claws, stones, ivory, and bones.
Homes
Cree tents.
As the people of the Subarctic often travelled and moved by the season, they made several homes during their travels or simply carried them on the journey. Shelter was often built with natural material found in the area, and as there were no hammers, nails, or saws, they put together pieces of small trees. Homes came in various styles, such as domes or cones. In the summer, houses could be made of animal skins or birch bark. Winter houses were often tent-like teepees that could be set up or taken down easily, as well as being able to be carried around when moving.
Tsilqot'in basket used for decoration and holding objects.
In almost every shelter was a fire in the midst of it. Fire was important in its being a significant light source, being used to roast or boil food, and most importantly provide heat and warmth. During the spring and summer seasons, the fire kept bugs away from the sleeping inhabitants of the houses. In the winter, fires were popular places to gather around for story-telling. Fire was generally carried from camp to camp if possible. When put out, it was re-ignited with a bow drill or by using flint on pyrite, a type of rock, in rotted dry wood.
Many tribes had a larger dance hut for celebrations and gatherings of families. There they exchanged furs and stories. The only decoration that even the most elaborate of shelters had, however, was the basket. Used as wallets, fish sacks, storage jars, and baby pouches as well, baskets were placed around the house.
Many tribes had a larger dance hut for celebrations and gatherings of families. There they exchanged furs and stories. The only decoration that even the most elaborate of shelters had, however, was the basket. Used as wallets, fish sacks, storage jars, and baby pouches as well, baskets were placed around the house.
Tools and Weapons
Small Attikamek knife.
All tools in the Subarctic people's lives were originally made of wood, rock, and animal skins and bones, natural resources that could be found almost anywhere. Antlers were also often used for making knives and arrowheads. Hunters used a various arsenal of weapons to catch game, such as bows and arrows, traps and snares, drift fences and pounds for capturing caribou, and weirs, dip and gill nets, spears, and even hooks and lines for catching fish. Bows, clubs, axes, and spears could also be used for battle, while knives were often used by women to skin and scrape animal hides.
An Ulu, a Dene tool used for cutting and scraping hides.
Food and water were carried around in pouches made of animal skins. Food that was stored away, usually underground, such as berries, grains, and meat, were placed in containers of tree bark. Utensils at the table were made of horns, and in some areas shellfish shells could be used as a replacement for spoons, for scooping up food. Carved wood or birchbark were the material for crafting dishes.
With the European contact, the Subarctic people began importing new and advanced
technology, replacing old hunting tools with faster and lighter weapons like guns. Other household and everyday tools were also changed into steel items, which were sturdier and stronger.
With the European contact, the Subarctic people began importing new and advanced
technology, replacing old hunting tools with faster and lighter weapons like guns. Other household and everyday tools were also changed into steel items, which were sturdier and stronger.
Food and water were carried around in pouches made of animal skins. Food that was stored away, usually underground, such as berries, grains, and meat, were placed in containers of tree bark. Utensils at the table were made of horns, and in some areas shellfish shells could be used as a replacement for spoons, for scooping up food. Carved wood or birchbark were the material for crafting dishes.
With the European contact, the Subarctic people began importing new and advanced technology, replacing old hunting tools with faster and lighter weapons like guns. Other household and everyday tools were also changed into steel items, which were sturdier and stronger.
With the European contact, the Subarctic people began importing new and advanced technology, replacing old hunting tools with faster and lighter weapons like guns. Other household and everyday tools were also changed into steel items, which were sturdier and stronger.