Cree Indians
The Cree Indians are considered to be the “First Nations People” in
Canada. In the United States however, they are referred to only as Native
Americans. Did you know that the Cree language was once the most widely
spoken language in North America? Yes it is true; however sadly the
Cree Indians of today speak more English and French than their native Cree
language.
The Cree Indians were excellent hunters and gatherers. They lived primarily
near the Great Lakes, which was abundant in wild rice, one of the Cree Indians
staple foods and an adequate substitute for corn, which could not be grown
in the lakes area very easily. And just as rice was a substitute for corn,
it was equally a substitute for labor. The Cree Indians planted and guarded
the crop, harvested it, hulled it, dried it and smoked it. It was quite
a strenuous undertaking for the Cree women, as they did most of the work.
As for their main protein source, it was definitely fish, along with moose
and deer meat.
One amazing tool of the Cree Indians was in how they used the birch trees
in their region. They utilized the birch bark for making canoes, building
their houses, cooking pots and utensils. It was even used as an early form
of writing paper.
The Cree Indians rarely had trouble with other tribes or any other people
for that matter. The reason for this was supposedly because of the location
they chose to settle in. There were no vast settlements; it was not a “popular” place
for camp settlement, it was mainly forest and water logged uncommon areas. However,
when the Cree Indians obtained horses, many of them left for the open plains
to hunt buffalo. These Indians later became known as the Plains Cree.
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