Surviving the Elements with the Mi’kmaq Tribe and the First
Nations in BC
Alex Ference
Even though the First Nations and the Mi’kmaq tribe were on different coasts and
had many differences, they still had some similarities in surviving the elements with
providing food and shelter. Food and shelter are necessary aspects to survival and
without them; the First Nations would not have survived the harsh northern
elements.
Shelter is a necessity to surviving. The different types of shelters must be
discussed when comparing survival techniques. Since living on the coast provides a
similar climate, one might think that their shelters are similar; however, there are
only 2 similarities. Both tribes’ shelters were never permanent. Both First Nations
made annual seasonal movements to take advantage of the land during the right
seasons. Also, both of their shelters would have a hole at the top to let the smoke out
from their fires. The First Nations in British Columbia had 2 different types of
shelters. They had pit houses in the interior plateau and had north-western
longhouses closer to the coast. Pit houses were the perfect shelter for their type of
climate. They were well insulated in the cold winters in the interior. To make them,
a circular hole would be dug into the ground about 3 meters deep. Rafters were then
built overtop the hole and these were then covered with bark, earth and sod. The
was a hole at the top, had 2 purposes. A log was placed at the top acting as a kind of
door, and a fireplace was built directly under the hole the hole would act as a
chimney. Pit houses could have the diameter of 5-15 meters. The other type of
shelter from the BC First Nations were the Northwest longhouses. They were
massive and lasted for years. They would start making them with a cedar frame.
They would cover it with cedar planks a lot like shingles and then they would have
more support poles on the sides also made of cedar. They were very useful in
survival because they lasted for a long time and were very strong in the hard
conditions. The Mi’kmaq tribe stayed in shelters called wigwams. They were in a
cone or dome shape and they could hold 10 to 15 people. The structure was made
with spruce poles and covered with birch bark. The birch bark was soaked in water
to make it flexible so it would fit on the structure nicely. There was an opening like a
doorframe so people could enter and leave.
Food is a necessity of life and surviving would not be possible without it. With both
the tribes being on the coast, it was very easy to get fish for food. Both tribes
benefited from it greatly. Both tribes got fish from the ocean and streams, especially
when the fish would make their seasonal runs. They didn’t just have fish; they could
also munt animal on land. They trapped Moose deer, caribou, bear, rabbit, beaver,
porcupine and other small animals. To maximize hunting and fishing, the tribes
made annual seasonal movements called habitations to take advantage of the land
during the right seasons. They move around to the place is best according to the
season For example, many Squamish First Nations moved south in the summer to go
to the area which is now Stanley park, Then in around October, they would live
around the streams where the salmon runs would occur. The few differences were
that the types of fish they caught. On the west coast, they could get more salmon and
halibut and in the Mi’kmaq tribe, they got fish like eel and smelt. Apparently eel is
their favourite fish. There was no lack in food for the tribes, helping them to survive.
This information shows that the First Nations in British Columbia and the Mi’kmaq
First Nations had different ideas in terms of shelter but were very similar in
methods of fishing and hunting for food. It shows that even though they were on
completely different coasts, they still had some similarities.