Northern Algonquians & Woodland Cree Illustration

Far North & Arctic
Native Americans

Northern Algonquians
& Woodland Cree

Hunters and Gatherers: The Algonquians were hunters and gatherers. The Cree were the largest and most typical of the northern Algonquian. The Cree lived in the area south of Hudson Bay to almost to the Great Lakes. Most were Woodland people. Some were Plains people. All are considered Far North Native Americans.

Homes and Transportation: These early people used bark canoes. Homes were tepees covered with hide and bark.

Clothing: They wore leather leggings and leather boots. Women wore leather dresses belted at the waist. They made detachable sleeves that could be removed for summer wear, and attached for winter wear. In the winter they added coats, gloves, and hats as needed.

Tattoos: In olden days, many far north Algonquians tattooed their bodies. The women only tattooed a couple of simple lines on either side of their face. But the men nearly covered their body with tattoos.

Tools: They made axes and arrowheads from stone. They made knives and fish hooks from bone. Containers were made from birch bark and stone.

Trade: The Cree also traded for goods. They were pretty easy to get along with. They were honest in everything except trade. Everyone knew that part of trading to the Cree was a needed ability to be cunning.

Religion: They believed in many magical beings. The person who talked to the magical beings for them was the shaman.

Woodland Native Americans

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