History of the People
The Subarctic Natives resided in the regions of North America and modern day Canada long before the arrival of explorers and settlers from Europe. They believed in the Hero of old times that taught them a more proper and effective way of living and surviving, the most significant teaching and feat being beginning to hunt after showing the animals of the world that they were not superior to the humans. The histories of the eastern and western regions of the Subarctic, however, differ. Having been scattered over such a large continent, the people of the two areas came into contact with the Europeans at different times, ranging from the early 1500s to the 1800s. Thus, they were affected by the non-Native settlers at contrasting rates, although in the end the consequences of European contact was similar.
East
The fur trade between Europeans and Natives.
The Natives of Eastern Canada can be found in history as far back as 5000 B.C. The ancestors of who would later be named the Algonquians, these people lived in an archaic culture that leaves few clues to knowing about their life.
Contact with the Europeans happened in the early 16th century in the form of an encounter with explorers. The meeting gradually grew into further and more oft interaction, developing into a significant fur trade. The fur trade involved Europeans exchanging their guns, gunpowder, ammunition, clothes and blankets, and paints for Native furs of beaver, otter, lynx and ermine skins. The people of the east quickly grew accustomed to the imported items and began to naturally demand for more trade with the Europeans.
Contact with the Europeans happened in the early 16th century in the form of an encounter with explorers. The meeting gradually grew into further and more oft interaction, developing into a significant fur trade. The fur trade involved Europeans exchanging their guns, gunpowder, ammunition, clothes and blankets, and paints for Native furs of beaver, otter, lynx and ermine skins. The people of the east quickly grew accustomed to the imported items and began to naturally demand for more trade with the Europeans.
A European offering alcohol to a Native.
To keep the trade going, the Subarctic people began to hunt for even more animals for their furs. This action was a breaking of their tradition of making sure that they would only take necessary amounts of game. The situation quickly went out of hand as they over hunted, bringing about the near extinction of most furred animals. Still needing for more fur, Natives started hunting on the lands of other bands and tribes, and war sparked between them. The Europeans, on the other hand, provided the Natives with alcohol, which served as an effective tool for cheating their trading partners.
West
Dugout canoes, the same as the ones used by nomads from Siberia.
The ancestors of the Athapascan, or western, people of the Subarctic were nomads from Siberia in Russia. Crossing the land bridge of Beringia that had temporarily risen during the Ice Ages, they came to North America as far as 9,000 years ago.
Two Gwich'in hunters. The left one has a rifle.
These people made contact with the Europeans noticably later than the eastern Natives due to their distance from the eastern coast of Canada. However, when encounters did occur eventually, they met the same fate as their eastern brothers. The rapid-fire, repeating rifles that the European traders had brought surely promised a quicker and more efficient hunt. It required less skill compared to hunting with the traditional tools and weapons of the tribes, and there was little physical or age restriction when simply handling a gun.
The fur trade happened here, too, Natives exchanging furs for cloth garments, tea, flour, lard, steel traps, tobacco, and rifles and ammunition. The extinction of caribou and other fur-providing animals began to come into place. Soon, European influence grew into a massive colonization with the gold rush in the 1860s and the 1870s. Communication opened between Alaska and Russia through telegraph lines, and the Alaska-Canadian
Highway was built during World War II.
The fur trade happened here, too, Natives exchanging furs for cloth garments, tea, flour, lard, steel traps, tobacco, and rifles and ammunition. The extinction of caribou and other fur-providing animals began to come into place. Soon, European influence grew into a massive colonization with the gold rush in the 1860s and the 1870s. Communication opened between Alaska and Russia through telegraph lines, and the Alaska-Canadian
Highway was built during World War II.
Subarctic Native living on Blueberry River Reserve
However, over time mixing with the incoming European culture, positive consequences came to light as well as negative ones. Most significantly, caribou and moose began appearing again as the 20th century started, and tribes of the Subarctic resumed some of their traditional lives. On the other hand, the Canadian government issued educational orders to send all of the Native children to school, mostly Christian missionary schools. Children were forcibly taken to be completely deprived of their culture and lifestyle and even their language, while many groups were obliged to stop their nomadic lives and settle, often forming societies that were put into Native reserves.
Modern Day
People of the Subarctic today have adapted to the modern technology brought by the non-Native settlers. In most cases, they effectively combine modern tools and public education with their traditional culture, making them part of unique societies. As government projects attempt to expand into their natural environment and territories, the Subarctic people work to protect nature's homes given to them. The Ojibway-Cree Nation of Treaty Number Nine of 1977 demanded that they could retain their own government as well as receive compensation for any harm done to their lands.