Abenaki- Penobscat speak Algonkian. It was once spoken by two related tribes. Today only a few speak the western Abenaki language. The last fluent speaker has about died. Some elders are working to revive it's use.This is a complex language. This tribe with the Maliseets , Passamaquoddys and the Micmaqs were members of the of old Wabanaki Confederacy. These allies spoke related related languages and Abnaki have the same Algonquin root. Today there are 12,000 Abnaki in New England, and Quebec, and 3000 in Maine.
Today 2000 Abenaki and Wabanaki live on two reserves in Quebec. They have 2000 people , and 10,000 Abenaki descendants are descendants are throughout New England. There are three bands of Abenaki in the U.S.
During the 1500's about 75% Native Americans in New England died of Anglo diseases. After these tragedies the survivors merged together. They retreated to Canada and never received federal recognition. They were originally from New England. They settled on the Odanak and Wolinak River after 1600's.
The Abenaki warrior was required to protect his family clan and band. The bulk of heavy work was done by the the women who foods, kept the household running and raised the children. Their farmed the corn, beans, squash. The men hunted, fished, cleared trees and built wigwams. They made birchbark canoes. They built towers. The warriors traveled long distances without resting, but ate ground cornmeal with strips of dried smoked meat. They gave the French meat and trapped and exchanged goods with them.
Special ceremonies would be likely for a marriage, a death, a planting, the Harvest, warfare, and trading. They kept their ceremonies with certain prayers for the gatherings - the Creator, Mother Earth, Father Sky, and the Four Directions and all our relations to bless the gatherings. They sing songs and dance various dances.
They lived a spherical lodge about 8 to 14" in diameter for healing and sweats. They built their lodges with poles covered with bark and buffalo hides. They also built a long house lodge to accommodate men on the eastern end and women on the western end. They had a division of labor based on a philosophy. The men hunted and fished. The women picked berries and nuts, gathered lily roots, wild rice, onions and garlic, mushrooms, nut, wild cabbage, and herbs. medicinal plants were yarrow, burdock, foxglove, catnip, and licorice.
They planted corn using a method called companion farming. The 3 sisters were planted on a big mound. All were harvested at the same time and were dried for winter. They also grew snow peas., cucumbers, and gourds.
The Indians had trout, turkey, salmon, clam chowder, cornbread, and turtle soups.
Native-languages.org
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