The People of the The People of the PlateauPlateau

- - DianaDiana N,TaylorN,Taylor N, N, AnthonyAnthony V. V.

HabitatHabitat Even though the plateau region of Canada Even though the plateau region of Canada

was one of the smaller areas, it was still very was one of the smaller areas, it was still very diverse in terms of geographydiverse in terms of geography

The territory of the Plateau people also included The territory of the Plateau people also included expanses of forests, and many natural waterways expanses of forests, and many natural waterways (rivers and lakes).(rivers and lakes).

Boreal forests, with mostly coniferous trees, Boreal forests, with mostly coniferous trees, dominated the landscape of the Plateau region.dominated the landscape of the Plateau region.

Some of the largest and most important lakes in the Some of the largest and most important lakes in the region were located in the Okanagan valley. region were located in the Okanagan valley.

-diana-diana

Homes :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

Subsistence :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

Clothing :Clothing :Men clothing:• leggings made from animal hide or

grasses• shirts made from animal skins• breechcloths and moccasinsWomen clothing: • skirts or dresses• dresses were decorated with beadwork• Moccasins• - taylor

Clothing:Clothing:Winter clothing:• clothing that kept them warm• thicker animal skins and animal furs• thicker leather pantsHead dresses:• represent a persons status within the

community• used for ceremonies• - taylor

Tools & Weapons :Tools & Weapons :

• 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

Social Organization and Social Organization and Kinship: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

Leadership and Leadership and Responsibilities: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

Leadership and Leadership and ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities::

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

Religious :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

Cultural Artifacts: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.

Bibliography:Bibliography:1)

http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_groups/fp_plateau2.html

Copy right :Goldi Productions Ltd. 20072) CrossroadsAuthor : Michael CrannyCopy right :1998 by Pearson Education

Canada Inc., Toronto, Canada