The Algonquins of Pikwakanagan
If one is to follow to Ottawa River from midtown Ottawa through the Ottawa Valley and into Renfrew county, one would discover the great history of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation. Nestled in the small community of Golden Lake, located approximately two and a half hours west from Ottawa. This small community has a population of roughly 450 people with 90% classifying themselves as aboriginal(city data). There is archaeological evidence indicating Algonquins occupied the Ottawa Valley for at least the last 10,000 years. (http://www.algonquinsofpikwakanagan.com/culture_history.php)This area was specifically chosen because it is twenty minutes from the town of Renfrew, which is the town I grew up in. …show more content…
This specific history of the Ottawa Valley people is inseparable from the history of the Algonquian peoples. This history is hard to separate because the Algonquins have always made theirs homes close to the Ottawa River. Algonquin people believe they have always lived in the Ottawa Valley, an understanding which is reflected in their traditional stories(http://www.thealgonquinway.ca/pdf/algonquin-history.pdf). The specific story I read was called Wiskedjak Pursues the Beaver; this story explained how creation came to the aboriginal peoples in this area. These Algonquins refer to themselves as the Pikwakanagan which means hilly place. The Ottawa Valley is exactly that, it is a hilly place; there are high valleys and areas surrounded by rivers.The Algonquin in this area were people who livecd by seasonal migration. The families were composed of small groups that shared their resources cooperatively Since they were a group of people whom relied on seasonal migration they typically congregated with interrelated groups at resource rich areas. Their socio-economic survival was based off of hunting, fishing and gathering. The Algonquin language is a strong part of their culture and beliefs. “It transmits knowledge from our past and gives us pride and awareness of who we are as Algonquins.”This specific group of aboriginal people stretch from Quebec to Northern Saskatchewan. Samuel Champlain was the first person to make contact with these algonquian peoples. During the 17th centurary the Algonquins and Nippissings were allied with the Hurons and the French, they were allied because of the fur trade. Unfortunately there was high hostilities between the Algonquian and Iroquoian peoples. During the Beaver Wars the Iroquois repeatedly raided the Algonquins, during this time they fled from their homeland and found refuge in various locations. After the Beaver
If one is to follow to Ottawa River from midtown Ottawa through the Ottawa Valley and into Renfrew county, one would discover the great history of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation. Nestled in the small community of Golden Lake, located approximately two and a half hours west from Ottawa. This small community has a population of roughly 450 people with 90% classifying themselves as aboriginal(city data). There is archaeological evidence indicating Algonquins occupied the Ottawa Valley for at least the last 10,000 years. (http://www.algonquinsofpikwakanagan.com/culture_history.php)This area was specifically chosen because it is twenty minutes from the town of Renfrew, which is the town I grew up in. …show more content…
This specific history of the Ottawa Valley people is inseparable from the history of the Algonquian peoples. This history is hard to separate because the Algonquins have always made theirs homes close to the Ottawa River. Algonquin people believe they have always lived in the Ottawa Valley, an understanding which is reflected in their traditional stories(http://www.thealgonquinway.ca/pdf/algonquin-history.pdf). The specific story I read was called Wiskedjak Pursues the Beaver; this story explained how creation came to the aboriginal peoples in this area. These Algonquins refer to themselves as the Pikwakanagan which means hilly place. The Ottawa Valley is exactly that, it is a hilly place; there are high valleys and areas surrounded by rivers.The Algonquin in this area were people who livecd by seasonal migration. The families were composed of small groups that shared their resources cooperatively Since they were a group of people whom relied on seasonal migration they typically congregated with interrelated groups at resource rich areas. Their socio-economic survival was based off of hunting, fishing and gathering. The Algonquin language is a strong part of their culture and beliefs. “It transmits knowledge from our past and gives us pride and awareness of who we are as Algonquins.”This specific group of aboriginal people stretch from Quebec to Northern Saskatchewan. Samuel Champlain was the first person to make contact with these algonquian peoples. During the 17th centurary the Algonquins and Nippissings were allied with the Hurons and the French, they were allied because of the fur trade. Unfortunately there was high hostilities between the Algonquian and Iroquoian peoples. During the Beaver Wars the Iroquois repeatedly raided the Algonquins, during this time they fled from their homeland and found refuge in various locations. After the Beaver