The Woodland Cree comprised the largest Amerindian group in northern Alberta. They are Algonquin linguistic stock. Prior to the 18th century, their territory was around Hudson Bay as far north as Churchill and east of James Bay to Lac Mistassini. Although their western boundary was uncertain, they had ventured into Northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba by the 18th century as middlemen, trading with western tribes. After acquiring guns through trade,...
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The Woodland Cree comprised the largest Amerindian group in northern Alberta. They are Algonquin linguistic stock. Prior to the 18th century, their territory was around Hudson Bay as far north as Churchill and east of James Bay to Lac Mistassini. Although their western boundary was uncertain, they had ventured into Northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba by the 18th century as middlemen, trading with western tribes. After acquiring guns through trade, they greatly expanded their territory and drove other tribes further west and north. A large group of Cree moved south onto the western prairies and adapted to a plains lifestyle, forming a close alliance with the Assiniboine (Stoney) tribe.
Their lodges varied in materials depending upon where they lived. In the southern areas they lived in birch-bark wigwams, and further north, where birch was more stunted, they used coverings of pine boughs and caribou hide over conical structures. There was a clear division of labour among men and women....
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