The Subarctic Precontact Life Ways, Changes during Contrast, and Colonialism - Term Paper Example

 The Subarctic Precontact life ways, changes during contrast, and colonialism Thousands of years ago during the time, when the great Christopher Columbus sailed towards the Bahamas, he found a new colony of men and women, a place now known as America. They were basically nomads from Native America who were assumed to be hiking on a bridge of land from modern day Asia to Alaska many years back. It is assumed that many people were living there long before the advent of Europeans there. With the passage of time, these nomads travelled throughout the south and the east adopting whatever they liked. So as to keep record of this bunch of people they’ve been divided in areas based on culture or groups of people having similar ways of living, habits, shelters and those who shared common inheritance. To start with the geography of this region, they are located in the boundary of the coniferous forest inside around five million kilometer square approximately it lapses from the arctic till the mountainous region as well as covers Labrador till the Bering Sea. It contains many lakes and rivers, mountainous ranges, plateaus as well as lowlands. Winters are quite severe in this region and snowfalls are quite frequent. There is a vast fluctuation in the temperatures which can be as freezing as -40 centigrade or as hot as 30 centigrade in summers. The animals found in this region are moose's, caribou's, specie of black bears, DallSheep's are even found, as well as beaver, rabbits, it is assumed that marmots or groundhogs one of these was used for the materials and also for livelihood. Trade was established by trading fur of animals such as wolves, otters, weasels etc. fish reside in the lakes and rivers which were used for food, even Salmon was found in the Pacific in a very less quantity. During certain seasons waterfowls were found that migrate pass the subarctic region. Different dialects were used in this region. Many languages were spoken like the Algonquian tribe's language was spoken throughout Eastern side of the subarctic; whereas the ones residing in the Western Subarctic used to speak Athapaskan languages. In the northern region Cree language was used by innu of Quebec and the Labradors. Language specialist have found above twenty dialects in the Athapaskan language. The Aboriginals didn’t have politics or a proper government set up but people usually organized themselves in groups on the basis of land, relationship, language or similar norms and values. Neighboring lands even had similar traditions. It was observed that the Athapaskan were far more culturally strong and diversified as compared to the Algonquians. Terms with the people of Europe diversified the way of living standards of subarctic communities. This was different on the basis of land and time zones. When trade of fur started, it was observed that relationships between the communities and Europeans flourished. Every group faced different impacts. For instance those developing newly discovered lands were brutally tortured by the Europeans and a lot of bloodshed occurred. A tribe also developed economic system with proper trade relationships. Trade posts were also established. Surprisingly, during the 20th century the non-aboriginals movement started to develop a faster rate. This led to awareness and the aboriginals started to think about their own land, people, customs and the forthcoming events. Basically the aboriginal consumed, survived and earned their living through catching fishes, getting plants precisely the wild ones. Proper farming and methods of farming were not introduced till the Europeans came to this land. Like everybody, the aboriginal men hunted for leisure and women used to work on making hares, or snaring, drying and cutting fishes. Usually the adults were involved in hunting techniques. Belt looms were used for weaving purposes and tumplines were used to carry loads. The use animals for games densely spread through huge pieces of land. They were available depending on the season or the local surroundings. The aboriginal population was quite modest, historians believe that around sixty thousand people dwelled in this region but it is assumed that this calculation is without considering the ones who became victims of diseases brought by the Europeans. The people of subarctic region moved in tribes and every tribe consisted of 20-25 members. These people were nomads and they used to change their location with the passage of time depending on their requirements and necessities. The natural resources available in the local area played an important part as their economic system was based on them. Since land was shared and every tribe used to neighbor so there were usually people fighting over hunting animals and other resources but when the food was abundant with ample hunting opportunities, the environment was quite peaceful and people used to dwell together. The concept of distribution of power now developed. People chose their respectable head of tribe as a chief who was given utmost respect and honor. He was responsible to make decisions and enforce them. Leadership started at this point and a head was responsible for trade and other state affair. Men, like all societies were given priority and they had their dominance. Food was a requirement which in this case could only be fulfilled case by hunting so they roamed from place to place gathering animals to hunt with heavy weapons which were made there and then. They didn’t prefer carrying them. children were made self-dependent, they were thought to be made individuals dealing with their lives therefore hunting was taught to them by narrating stories which helped them gain confidence and learn. Those children who executed this art well were supposed to be the successful ones. Clothes were comparatively quite light with legging all made up from animal skin. They preferred wearing very light handy sort of clothes. The robes worn during winter were made of rabbit skin woven and twisted down together. Snowshoes were compulsory as the people had to travel long distances therefore these were of real importance. Lakes were used to travel and canoes were used as a mean of transportation during the summers. The biggest challenge faced by the people of the subarctic region was developing contact with the Europeans. The people started to depend on items for trade such as weapons, cutlery, utensils and clothes. Food was demanded as they had changed their course from hunting of animals for their food. Since trading posts were set now bands preferred to move near them and the merchants were now managing these Aboriginal people. The tribal chiefs started to negotiate with the European who then became quiet important as they were the initial hunter chiefs. The trading of fur had a great effect on the ecology of the region. Many kinds of animals that had fur were completely vanishing from the face of the region. Europeans brought a lot of diseases with them such as viral infections like small pox, measles, T.B and flu due to which many animals lost their lives by catching these diseases, many humans lost their precious life when diseases struck out and with time there was a shortage of food because there weren’t any animals to hunt down. Initially there weren’t any traces of religion but later many people started to follow Christianity while some kept on worshipping their previously pertaining traditions and at times they merged both the religions. The power to gather innovative methods and ways is known as the trademark of these Aboriginal people. It was a part of their culture to do so. In today's world, when everything is developing on a huge scale so are the resources and the settlements. Thus the people of North are scared of losing their identity which lies in hunting for livelihood and trapping wild animals. The James Bay as well as the Quebec Agreement was duly signature by the council of elected representatives in 1975 belonging to Cree which were accepted to compensate for the effects that occurred socially and ecologically by the James Hydroelectric plant. Majority of the Cree were hunting and trapping on their land still. They used titles given by the government to reduce and put subsidy on the price of movement of stuff and the devices/systems used for communicating. The aboriginals who reside in the west of the Subarctic particularly in the region of Mackenzie, gathered their resources politically precisely in the Dene nation they now want their own government within the boundaries of Canada. In Alberta as well as the region on BC the effect are quite drastic because of the exploration of natural resources such as oil and gas. The impact these explorations can be seen vaguely in the Peace River. The making of tar on a great scale is seen near the Fort of McMurray area which erupted the drastic effects on the Cree residing in North Alberta. As they are the Aboriginals and the initial dwellers they have received quite a few benefits like job opportunities, and some sort of compensation from the developers. But the changes that have occurred in the environment have caused great difficulty in conventional hunting, fishing or trapping related activities. In the subarctic the climate is generally warming which leads to the immigration of the natives that reside there and many species that do not reside there at times settle. However our assumption of the Subarctic states that new people would not prefer to reside there as this area is constantly prone to attacks and colonization. Therefore new assimilation is next to impossible. A reason of this might be the shortage of awareness in the Aboriginals. Few changes are to be looked forward to in the area of dwarf shrub heath. The prominent type o0f vegetation in the Aboriginal region clearly indicates that people resist to colonization's and barbaric invasions. The colonial rule which came with Columbus brought a lot of viruses and illnesses with them. These aboriginals were agitated by the coming of these Americans and they therefore started to form their groups in order to destroy each other. This also lead to genocide among the native people of the Subarctic. The people became barbaric when Europeans started to colonize the region. As a result even when the genocides stopped prosecution still continued as there was shortage of employment, necessities and socially required services. This lead to uncertainty and hurdled between the prosperity and solidarity of the state. These colonizing nations also brutally ruptured the Aboriginal conventional culture that persisted before which can be considered as an o purpose attack so that they lose their individuality. They brought technology with them as well. Although great efforts are made in order to fight back the economic and social problems that erupted because of colonization but they haven’t been quiet successful in doing so. Colonization caused a state of unrest among the people of subarctic. They were now being deprived of their individuality. Which was very alarming as a nation is known for what they are. During this time bloodshed and torture was at its peak and people were forced to follow their colonizers. Now they were slaves to someone else's demands. These aboriginals have their own identity, their ways, customs and traditions which were very diverse and unique. The formed a society of their own people which was very well organized but the colonization ruptured their initial set up and caused them to suffer. In a nutshell the aboriginals were a great nation who was different having a great history attached to them. These are the Native Americans who were then turned down by the European. Works cited: Aboriginal People: Subarctic - The Canadian Encyclopedia. (n.d.). The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved February 13, 2013, from http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/native-people-subarctic History of the Pre-colonial Americas | Essential Humanities.(n.d.). Essential Humanities | Concise Summaries of History and Art History. Retrieved February 13, 2013, from http://www.essential-humanities.net/world-history/history-of-the-pre-colonial-americas/#.URuscKUUu2M States, t. t. (n.d.). Native American Cultures — History.com Articles, Video, Pictures and Facts. History.com — History Made Every Day — American & World History. Retrieved February 13, 2013, from http://www.history.com/topics/native-american-cultures Read More