The People of the Plateau

1. The People of the Plateau - DianaN,Taylor N, Anthony V.

2. Habitat • Even though the plateau region of Canada was one of the smaller areas, it was still very diverse in terms of geography • The territory of the Plateau people also included expanses of forests, and many natural waterways (rivers and lakes). • Boreal forests, with mostly coniferous trees, dominated the landscape of the Plateau region. • Some of the largest and most important lakes in the region were located in the Okanagan valley. • -diana

3. Homes : • The people of the Plateau region were semi-nomadic, meaning they moved around in search of food. • They lived in one of three shelters, depending on the season: a pit house, a tipi, or a tule-mat lodge. Pit Houses • A pit house was an ideal structure for cold winter and a dry climate. • A hole was left on the roof so a notched log was placed at the top of the hole, which was a door. • Pit houses were between 6 & 8 metres across. • -diana

4. Subsistence : • Salmon were caught like spring, sockeye, humpback salmon • They hunted small animals for fur and food. They hunted coyote, fox, raccoon, porcupine, marten, weasel, beaver, marmot, hare. • They gathered berries, roots and bulbs for medicine. To preserve them they dried them. • - anthony

5. Clothing : Men clothing: • leggings made from animal hide or grasses • shirts made from animal skins • breechcloths and moccasins Women clothing: • skirts or dresses • dresses were decorated with beadwork • Moccasins • - taylor

6. Clothing: Winter clothing: • clothing that kept them warm • thicker animal skins and animal furs • thicker leather pants Head dresses: • represent a persons status within the community • used for ceremonies • - taylor

7. bows and arrows root-digging stick awl nets traps weirs spears hooks and lines Arrows head are made from bones It took a women all winter to make a net Later on, in a trade got guns from the European - taylor Tools & Weapons :

8. Social Organization and Kinship: • There were rankings and privileges, chiefs and nobles had the right to high ranking family names. • The chiefs and nobles also controlled access to resource sites like, the salmon chief was in charge of the fishing in the village. • Clans had people who shared a name of descent from a common ancestor, a clan had their own territory, ritual dances, and songs - anthony

9. Leadership and Responsibilities: • Each village had 1 or several leaders/chiefs • Each leader had a different role like hunting, warfare, and fishing. • Men had most power in decision making • Some areas gave all the power to elders because they were consider wiser - taylor

10. Leadership and Responsibilities: Men’s Responsibilities • decision making • hunting • trapping • fishing • making tools • warfare Women’s Responsibilities • preparing food • harvesting plants (ex. berries) • caring for children and their home • make clothing - taylor

11. Religious : • The people thought that all things including living and non living things had spirits, some were bad, some where good. These spirits were everywhere. • Strong spiritual connection with nature and animals. •  Shamans were the religious leaders in the Plateau culture, they were the most important religious leaders. • They had special powers to heal sick people, control the hunting, and tell the future, they believed that shamans can do this by communicating with the spiritual world. • Myths and stories of the Plateau people: • the creator (coyote) was supposed to be responsible for bringing the salmon up the river every spring and autumn. • They were also supposed to transform people into their present form. • - diana and anthony

12. Cultural Artifacts: • Rock paintings, or pictographs, were common in the southern part of British Columbia. • These paintings were usually of human or animal forms, or spiritual figures • The paint was made out of red ochre pigments mixed with animal oil or fish eggs. • Women in the Plateau region were skilled weavers. • They wove baskets, blankets, mats, and clothing using goat's wool and bark. •  Baskets were used for carrying goods, storage, and cooking. They were made out of birch bark, split roots • -diana.

13. Bibliography: 1)http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_groups/fp_plateau2.html Copy right :Goldi Productions Ltd. 2007 2) Crossroads Author : Michael Cranny Copy right :1998 by Pearson Education Canada Inc., Toronto, Canada