the land
DESCRIPTION
THE LAND. SHAPE OF THE LAND. many different climates and habitats, but one constant: province of mountains Coast mtns and Rocky mtns abundant resources: forests, food plants, minerals, game, and fur-bearing animals place of water: rivers, lakes, channels and inlet - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
THE LAND
SHAPE OF THE LAND
• many different climates and habitats, but one constant: province of mountains– Coast mtns and Rocky mtns– abundant resources: forests, food plants,
minerals, game, and fur-bearing animals• place of water: rivers, lakes, channels and inlet– 4 major river systems: Fraser, Skeena,
Columbia, Peace– provide living space, transportation routes and
habitat for fish
• land and resources shape the lives of people– mtns create barriers, landmarks, and boundaries– along with watersheds, define territories– adaptations to variations in climate, topography,
and resources resulted in variety of societies• half of all First Nations languages are found in BC• relationship with land dictated social
organization and governance sys– Interior more flexible governing sys while
coast more structured– Interior: democratic, no class sys, family
groups, Chief working in consultation with Elders
– Coast: strict social codes, rigid hierarchy and class sys
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REGIONS OF BC
1. The Coast• wet, mild climate
creates ideal for temperature rainforest– western red cedar
considered a special gift from nature
– river estuaries create rich habitat for wildlife and living space for people
• resources– principal resources –
cedar, salmon, oolichan– ocean – deep sea fish,
herring, shellfish– plants and berries
under the coniferous forest• including medicinal
plants– fur bearing mammals
and deer• source of food, fur,
hides and bones
• peopleo greatest number of distinct First Nations in Canada (9)o development of highly structured societies
complex social and artistic customsorganized in resource-use units
•composed of extended families•also known as house group•each unit had a number of territories providing resources throughout the year•some territories/camps shared by families
hereditary chief responsible for people and appropriate use of territories and resources some groups aligned in ‘tribes’
o followed similar seasonal patterns moving from location to location when resources available
spring resource camps – oolichan processingsummer – salmon campscompleted back at winter villagesseasonal rounds depended on resources within territoriesownership of territories inherited by extended family group
•principal purpose of potlatch
2. The Southern Interior• varied landscape creates
many different habitats• resources
o great diversity in plant and animal life
o plants used more for food here than any other place in BC
up to half of diet was vegetable
o some plant products were important trade
o salmon and deer were major animal resources
Peopleo most are Interior Salish languageo Ktunaxa (Kootenay) speak a language unrelated to any
other in the worldo well defined seasonal round for resource gathering
spring – green shoots of plants June – Saskatoon berries and wild potato August – salmon fall – hunting
o winter villages built in lowlands beside major rivers and lakes warmer pit houses – adapted to land and climate
3. Northeast• area more in common with
northern territories and prairies than rest of BC
• 3 main landscapes: foothills of Rockies, muskeg of north, prairies of east
• rich hunting grounds for large mammals
• Resourceso arctic rivers = no salmono some fish – trout, pikeo large mammals
greatest density of moose caribou, elk, grizzly and
black bear
• peopleo Athapaskan language familyo traditionally mobile lives
meat as large part of diet wide variety of berries harvested
4. Northern Interior• large part of BC and into
Yukon• similar to most northern
Canada• less diversity of plants and
fewer people• mtns, plateaus, some lakes• resources
o moose most widespread, some caribou
o smaller fur-bearing animals
•peopleo adapted to harsh climate and limited resources by being a flexible
societyo basic social unit = extended familyo mobile society ready to hunt, fish, trap