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G. The Cree People
From HCO Jr
| Part 1. First People of Canada → A. Turtle Island → B. The Wendat → C. The Siksika → D. The Haida → E. The Dene → F. The Inuit → G. The Cree → H. The Ojibwa → I. The Mi'kmaq |
| Cree - Gallery | Stories & Texts | Web Links | Vocab | Student Activities | Class Projects |
The Cree and Innu
Contents |
Cree live in northern Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec. Innu live in northern Quebec and Labrador. Their culture is similar to the Anishinabe. All three First Nations are considered Algonquian people because of the similar cultures. However, because the Cree and Innu live further north the environment is different. Cree and Innu people adapted to their colder environment. This makes their culture different from the Anishinabe.
In this chapter the Cree you are studying are often called the "Woodland Cree" because they live in the northern forests of Canada. In northern Manitoba and Ontario they are sometimes called the "Swampy Cree." This is because of the environment they live in. Near the shores of Hudson and James Bay the land is very wet with many bogs and swamps.
Innu people are made up of two groups: the Montagnais and the Naskapi. French explorers in the early 1600s named the Montagnais because they lived in the rugged mountain region north of the St. Lawrence River. Today the two groups call themselves Innu (which means “person” in English).
Environment of the Cree and Innu
Northern Ontario, Quebec and Labrador have large forests. Some deciduous trees grow in this region, but most of the trees are coniferous. Pine trees, balsam, spruce and tamarack trees grow in this environment.
There are also many lakes and rivers. Some rivers, such as the Moose River in northern Ontario, are very large. These lakes and rivers were very important to the Cree and Innu. They allowed them to travel in the spring, summer and autumn in lightweight canoes.
Much of the region is covered with bogs and wetlands. This is also called muskeg. This region receives a lot of rain in the spring, summer and fall. It also receives a lot of snow in the winter. Some areas hold on to the water which makes it very wet.
Many small plants grow in the muskeg. Berries and small bushes and shrubs grow in the north. There are is also a lot of moss and lichen.
Winters are cold and long in this part of Canada. Summers are short, but they can be hot. Summer days are longer compared to areas in southern Canada.
Cree/Innu Life and the Four Seasons
Cree and Innu people lived differently during the four seasons. They did this because each relied on different resources.
Spring
During the spring the Cree fished at the mouths of large rivers. Certain fish spawned during the spring, and large numbers of fish gathered together. This made them easy to catch. Some Cree and Innu people lived south enough to make maple sugar from maple trees.
In the late spring geese and ducks came to the north to lay eggs and raise their young. This was an important hunting time for the Cree and Innu.
Early spring was also an important time for hunting certain animals such as beaver and muskrat.
When the ice and snow was off the lakes and rivers Cree and Innu travelled south to where the Anishinabe and other nations lived. They traded with them for wild rice, corn and other things.
Summer was an important fishing time for both the Cree and the Innu. Some Innu people migrated to the coast of Labrador. They fished in the Atlantic Ocean. Other Innu people travelled to lakes and rivers to fish. Cree people did the same. They either fished in lakes and rivers or fished in Hudson's Bay or James Bay.
Cree and Innu people hunted during the summer. Small game such as rabbits were caught. They also hunted large animals such as moose, deer and bear. For the Innu who lived in the far north there were no moose to hunt.
Cree and Innu people collected berries in the summer. Since they lived so far north there were not as many types of berries as the Anishinabe had in their environment.
During the fall the Swampy Cree hunted geese and ducks.
Winter
During the winter Innu and Cree families would travel to their hunting territories to hunt and trap. Innu hunted caribou while the Cree hunted moose and other large game. Winter was also an important time to trap fur-bearing animals. Furs are at their best in the winter because the animals grow thicker fur to stay warm.
Cree/Innu Society
Technology
Cree and Innu people made everything from the resources in their environment. Plants, wood, stone, and animal bones, sinew and hides provide the Cree and Innu with everything that they needed.
From wood they made tobaggans and snowshoes. Innu called tobaggans utapan. They also made canoes. Most Cree and Innu canoes were made from spruce bark since birch bark was scarce in the north.
Cree/Innu Villages
Cree and Innu did not live in large villages. They lived in small groups. Cree and Innu travelled a lot during the year to find food and other resource. They developed a form of house that was well-suited to this lifestyle: the wigwam. Just like the Anishinabe homes, the Cree/Innu wigwam was made of birch bark. It could be easily put together and taken apart.
During the winter the women would cut pine branches and put them on the floor of the wigwam. This gave the inside of the wigwam a nice smell, and it helped keep it warm. During the summer and autumn women wove bullrushes together to make floor mats.
A small opening was created in the roof of the wigwam. At the centre, on the floor, women dug a small hole and placed a ring of rocks. A fire was kept burning at all times to cook food and keep people warm. Smoke rose through the small hole in the roof.
Family Life
The Innu lived in small groups during much of the year. There were not enough resources for large groups of people to live together like the Haida and Wendat. Usually three families lived together in the winter. They shared the work and labour between the women, men and children. People did gather together at certain times of the year to fish or hunt caribou herds.
During these gatherings young men and women would court and marry each other. Summer was also an important time for festivals and celebrations. These were important ways that the Innu stayed connected with each other as a people.
In both Cree and Innu families the work was divided between the women and men. Both men and women did very important work. Men did almost all of the hunting and fishing. Hunting was very hard work. Sometimes men could be gone for many days to find a moose or other large animal to feed their family. Men also trapped all the fur-bearing animals for the family. They also made the wigwams and homes. Also, men made snowshoes and other tools such as knives and axes that the family needed. Men taught their sons how to be good hunters and trappers.
Women fished and trapped a little. Women would snare rabbits close to the camp. They also checked the nets and fishing lines. In general, women were in charge of the family camp. During the summer they gathered berries and other plants. When the men brought home food the women prepared the meat and skinned the animal. Women tanned animal hides and furs to make clothes. Women made tools for cooking, and wood containers to store food. They dried meat and berries for winter storage. They also cared for the children, and taught young girls the skills they needed when they became older.
Cree/Innu Food
Sources of Food
Cree and Innu people relied on animals for a lot of their food. Many large animals live in the northern forests such as moose, deer, bear and caribou. Small animals such as rabbits were another important source of food. However, rabbits do not provide a lot of meat for a family. Hunters always wanted to find a large animal that would supply hundreds of kilograms of meat.
Some fur-bearing animals such as beaver could also be eaten. Hunters also ate ducks and geese, and collected their eggs for food. Many fish live in northern lakes. Pike, whitefish and pickerel are all important sources of food.
Hunting and Fishing
Hunting and fishing was very important to the Cree and Innu. They lived so far north that farming was not possible. They only fruit they had came from berries and other natural food they gathered from the environment.
Cree and Innu did use small hunting dogs. Usually they did not have large dogs because they did not use sleds like the Inuit. Large dogs also require a lot of food. Small dogs helped the Innu find animals, and did not require a lot of food to keep healthy. They only had large dogs if they lived in the far north and used sled dogs.
Cree and Innu people also made many different types of traps to catch certain animals. Some were called deadfalls. These were holes dug in the ground. Hunters covered the holes with branches, and placed bait (usually food) in the centre of the cover. The animal would fall through the hole. They also used snares to catch small animals such as rabbits.
Nets, fishing lines, and spears were used by men and women to catch fish. Some Cree lived far enough north that they hunted beluga whales in Hudson Bay.
Plant Food
Clothing
Cree men wore breechcloth during warm months. A belt held it in place. During colder months they wore leggings and moccasins. During the winter fur boots were placed over moccasins. A fur robe was also worn over their coat during the winter. In addition they wore fur mittens and hats during the winter.
Women wore dresses. They also wore moccasins. Like the men they wore coats and fur robes during the winter, and fur boats over their moccasins. They also wore fur mittens and hats.
Women made all of the clothes. They tanned the animal hides and furs, and made sewing thread from sinew. Animal bones were used as needles.
Innu people made many of their clothes from caribou hides. Caribou hair is very dense. It is also hollow. The air inside the caribou hair stays warm, and insulates the person from the cold weather.
Innue women also made clothes from seal skin. Seal hides were waterproof. If a person became wet in cold weather they could die very easily from hypothermia.
Travel
Like other Algonquian people, the Cree and Innu used toboggans, snowshoes and canoes to travel. There were some differences because of the resources available.
Cree and Innu people did not always have birch bark to make canoes. They also used spruce bark to make canoes. Toboggans were made from tamarack (Jack Pine) trees. Snow shoes were also larger because of the very deep snow the Cree and Innu walked through in the winter. Usually they are longer and less circular than Anishinabe snowshoes. Tamarack was also used to make snowshoes.
Women had to break down and set up hunting camps when the family traveled. Women had to carry very heavy loads over long distances. This was a very important job. Until the camp was set up a family had no shelter or fire to stay warm.
Trade
Cree and Innu people traded with First Nations in the south for different things. Anishinabe had corn they had traded with the Wendat for. They traded their extra corn with the Cree and Innu. Anishinabe people around Lake Superior also had copper to trade. Innu people traveled as far south as the St. Lawrence River to trade with Iroquois people who used to live there. They obtained corn and other vegetables. Both Cree and Innu people traded to get large sheets of birch bark to make canoes or storage containers.
First Nations who lived further south wanted the warm furs that came from the Cree and Innu. Furs from animals in the north were heavier and warmer than furs from animals in the south. These furs were better for winter clothing.
Cree/Innu Religion
Religion was a regular part of Cree and Innu life. Many things that they did had a religious part. For example, hunting and trapping required the hunter to perform certain rituals. If a hunter did not perform certain rituals before or after hunting he would not be successful the next time he needed food.
Hunters were good because of their skill, and because the animal they hunted allowed itself to be killed. Rituals made the animal happy because the hunter showed it respect. Even after an animal was killed and eaten the hunter had to show respect. Bones were not left lying around. The hunter gathered the bones and performed a ritual with them.
Like other First Nations people the Cree and Innu had shamans. These were people who could communicate with with the spirit world. They also had knowledge of plants and other things that could cure sickness.
Certain people also built small structures called shaking tents. They were small tents only big enough for one person. Shamans went inside to communicate with animal spirits and other spirits. When they entered the tent it would shake and a voice would come from the tent. People who saw shaking tents said they are very strong. Eight poles and wrapped tightly together to make a shaking tent, and one man cannot shake the tent by himself. Innu and Cree people believed it was the power of the spirit that made the tent move.
Drumming and dancing were other important ways that the Cree and Innu communicated with spirits, or performed rituals. They also gave offerings of tobacco in rituals, or burned a special plant called sweetgrass.
| Cree - Gallery | Stories & Texts | Web Links | Vocab | Student Activities | Class Projects |
| Part 1. First People of Canada → A. Turtle Island → B. The Wendat → C. The Siksika → D. The Haida → E. The Dene → F. The Inuit → G. The Cree → H. The Ojibwa → I. The Mi'kmaq |
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