Learning about Learning about the Abenakithe Abenaki

A Presentation byA Presentation by

New Hampshire Historical SocietyNew Hampshire Historical Society

Using Natural ResourcesUsing Natural Resources

Even in the harsh Even in the harsh climate and rugged climate and rugged terrain of the region terrain of the region we now call New we now call New Hampshire…Hampshire…

Using Natural ResourcesUsing Natural Resources

Native Americans Native Americans lived very well on lived very well on the resources around the resources around them — long before them — long before Europeans arrived.Europeans arrived.

Using Natural ResourcesUsing Natural Resources

Based on what you see, what resources do you Based on what you see, what resources do you think might be available to the Abenaki? think might be available to the Abenaki?

FishingFishing

If you included hunting If you included hunting and fishing, you were and fishing, you were absolutely right.absolutely right.

Here you see an Indian Here you see an Indian catching fish with the catching fish with the aid of a weir…aid of a weir…

……and spear.and spear.

FishingFishing

Native Americans Native Americans fashioned other tools fashioned other tools for fishing, too…for fishing, too…

……like nets and like nets and plummets, which were plummets, which were attached to fishing line attached to fishing line to take it below the to take it below the surface.surface.

The Amoskeag Falls on the Merrimack River provided The Amoskeag Falls on the Merrimack River provided excellent fishing in spring and summer.excellent fishing in spring and summer.

FishingFishing

HuntingHuntingAnimals of field and forest were Animals of field and forest were another natural resource for the another natural resource for the Abenaki.Abenaki.

Indian Hunting CampIndian Hunting Camp

HuntingHunting

Hunting and Hunting and stalking were stalking were exhausting and exhausting and challenging challenging tasks.tasks.

They required They required great skill and great skill and strength.strength.

GatheringGathering

BerriesBerries

NutsNuts

HerbsHerbs

Tree sapsTree saps

While men hunted and While men hunted and fished, women gathered the fished, women gathered the region’s resources…region’s resources…

Indian Sugar CampIndian Sugar Camp

GrowingGrowing

In warmerIn warmerregions, womenregions, womenalso werealso wereresponsibleresponsiblefor growingfor growingcrops…crops…

especially, corn,especially, corn,beans, andbeans, andsquash — together called “the three sisters.”squash — together called “the three sisters.”

Using Natural ResourcesUsing Natural Resources

The Abenaki were skillful at using their resources for The Abenaki were skillful at using their resources for more than…more than…

hunting and fishinghunting and fishing

andand

gathering and growinggathering and growing

ShelterShelter The forest resources of New The forest resources of New Hampshire yielded tree bark Hampshire yielded tree bark and saplings for both…and saplings for both…

temporary conical wigwams temporary conical wigwams andand

more permanent dome-more permanent dome-shaped wigwamsshaped wigwams

Food PreparationFood Preparation……were used to grind or pound nuts and grains.were used to grind or pound nuts and grains.

Mortars and Pestles, made of wood or stone,…

Food PreparationFood Preparation

Originally, Indians carved bowls from stone — work that Originally, Indians carved bowls from stone — work that was performed by men.was performed by men.

When the Abenaki learned how to make clay pots, When the Abenaki learned how to make clay pots, women took over the task of making the vessels. women took over the task of making the vessels.

StorageStorage

These baskets in the These baskets in the collections of the N.H. collections of the N.H. Historical Society Historical Society show distinctive show distinctive Abenaki design and Abenaki design and use of natural use of natural resources…resources…

birch bark and birch bark and porcupine quills.porcupine quills.

TransportationTransportationNew Hampshire’s New Hampshire’s waterways were like waterways were like highways to the Abenaki. highways to the Abenaki. They madeThey madebirch bark canoes for birch bark canoes for rivers and streamsrivers and streamsand dugout canoes for and dugout canoes for lake travel.lake travel.

And of course they And of course they walked!walked!

Using Natural ResourcesUsing Natural Resources

All of this was about to change!All of this was about to change!

Basically, the Indians in Basically, the Indians in New Hampshire were New Hampshire were self-sufficient.self-sufficient.They used the woods They used the woods and waters of the region and waters of the region to fulfill their needs…to fulfill their needs…

from tools…from tools…

……to toysto toys

ContactContact

The arrival of European traders and The arrival of European traders and settlers in the 1600s brought many settlers in the 1600s brought many changes to the lives of Native Americans.changes to the lives of Native Americans.

What do you think were some of the What do you think were some of the immediate changes?immediate changes?

ContactContactPassaconaway, the great Passaconaway, the great Pennacook sagamore, Pennacook sagamore, encouraged cooperation encouraged cooperation with the European with the European newcomers.newcomers.

According to Native According to Native American tradition, American tradition, Indians had been foretold Indians had been foretold of the coming of white of the coming of white people.people.

ContactContact Extensive trade developed. Extensive trade developed. What did each offer?What did each offer?

IndiansIndians could could supply fish, furs, supply fish, furs, and forest and forest products.products.

EuropeansEuropeans could could offer clothing, offer clothing, metal tools, and metal tools, and beads.beads.

ContactContact

• Wars betweenWars betweenEngland and FranceEngland and France

• Increasing numbersIncreasing numbersof English settlersof English settlers

• Differing ideasDiffering ideasabout land ownershipabout land ownership

• Growing AbenakiGrowing Abenakidependence ondependence onEuropean goodsEuropean goods

• And European diseases unknown to the IndiansAnd European diseases unknown to the Indians

The Abenakis’ traditional way of The Abenakis’ traditional way of life was doomed.life was doomed.There were several factors.There were several factors.

Abenakis TodayAbenakis Today

While the AbenakiWhile the Abenakiway of life may haveway of life may havebeen doomed, thebeen doomed, theAbenaki themselvesAbenaki themselveswere not.were not.

Some still live amongSome still live amongus today, and moreus today, and morelive in Quebec where many emigrated in the 1700s.live in Quebec where many emigrated in the 1700s.

Abenakis TodayAbenakis Today

Some Native AmericansSome Native Americansare working to preserveare working to preservethe knowledge and skillsthe knowledge and skillsof their ancestors.of their ancestors.Splitting ash to makeSplitting ash to makebaskets, a traditionalbaskets, a traditionalAbenaki activity,Abenaki activity,is still very much inis still very much inevidence today amongevidence today amongAbenaki craftsmen.Abenaki craftsmen.

©© 2008 Christopher MacLeod for the 2008 Christopher MacLeod for the New Hampshire Historical SocietyNew Hampshire Historical Society