CREE INDIANS IN CANADA - PART 2

THE MOTHERS MADE CRADLEBOARDS SO THEY COULD HAVE FREEDOM WITH THEIR HANDS. MEN WERE HUNTERS AND FISHERS AND WENT TO WAR TO PROTECT THEIE CHILDREN . THE WOMEN CARED FOR THE FAMILY , BUILT THE HOUSES, GATHERED PLANTS AND MEDICINALS. BOTH DID STORYTELLING, ART, AND MUSIC, AND FESTIVALS. IN THE PAST THE CHIEF WAS ALWAYS A MAN. TODAY A WOMAN CAN ALSO BE ONE. THEY MADE CLOTHING FROM DEERSKIN WHEN COLD. MEN WORE BREECHCLOTHES WHEN WARM. THEY LATER WORE ANGLO CLOTHES WITH BEADWORK, EMBROIDERY, AND RIBBON FOR COSTUMES.

THEY WORE FUR AND LEATHER CAPS WITH FEATHERS. THE CHIEFS WORE LONG FEATHER HEADRESSES. BOTH SEXES WORE THEIR HAIR IN LONG BRAIDS AND PAINTED THEIR FACES FOR CEREMONIES AND WORE TRIBAL TATTOOS. THEY MADE MOCCASINS.

THEY BUILT BIRCHBARK CANOES THAT THEY WERE WELL KNOWN FOR. AFTER ANGLOS CAME THEY BUILT THEM WITH CANVAS. IT IS STILL POPULAR TODAY. THEY USE DOGS FOR PACK ANIMALS FOR SLEDS FOR WINTER TRAVEL. THEY ALSO MAKE AND WEAR SNOWSHOES.
THEIR FOOD WAS PRIMARILY CARIBOU WHO CAUGHT CARIBOU, ELK, MOOSE, AND SMALL GAME. THE PLAINS CREE HUNTED BUFFALO. THE EASTERN CREE FISHED AND HUNTED SEALS WITH CANOES.

WHEN HUNTING BUFFALO THEY USED CONTROLLED FIRES AND HERDED THEM OVER A CLIFF. THEY MADE A FLUTE-LIKE SOUND TO LEER HE MOOSE. THEIR ARTS AND CRAFTS ARE LIKE QUILLING CRAFTS, WOOD CARVING, AND COLORFUL BEADWORK. THEY MADE WAMPUM BEADS AS A CURRENCY BUT THEY WERE A KIND OF CURRENCY. THE DESIGNS TOLD A STORY ON THEIR BELTS. THEIR SPIRITUALITY WAS COMPLEX.

HERE IS A MYTH THAT IS CALLED "COYOTE CREATES THE EARTH". WHEN THERE WAS NO EARTH,ONLY WATER, COYOTE WAS FLOATING ON A SMALL RAFT WHEN HE MET DUCKS. THEY WERE THE ONLY OTHER CREATURES. HE SAID NO ONE ELSE WAS THERE EXCEPT HIS BRTHERS. YOU MUST GET US SOME EARTH TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT. COYOTE SAID TO RED MALLARD - DIVE BENEATH THE WATER TO BRING UP SOME EARTH. WE NEED IT FOR LIVING. HE DOVE DOWN AND REMAINED THERE WITHOUT BRINGING UP ANY EARTH, COYOTE ASKED THE PINTO DUCK TO DO THE SAME THING. HE DOVE UNDER THE WATER AND DID NOT BRING UP EARTH.

GREBE SPOKE UP AND AND SAID YOU SHOULD HAVE ASKED ME TO GO BEFORE YOU. HE TOOK HIS TURN DIVING. AFTER SOME TIME HE CAME UP WITH SOME LITTLE DIRT. COYOTE SAID "TO EVERY UNDERTAKING THERE ARE FOUR TRIAL. YOU HAVE ACHIEVED IT. THEN HE TOOK THE MUD AND SAID I WILL TAKE THIS INTO THE EARTH. YOU WILL LIVE ON THE STREAMS AND BUILD YOUR NESTS. I AM GOING TO BUILD THE EARTH. COYOTE TOOK THE MUD AND SAID PLENTY OF ROOM. AS HE TRAVELED ALONG THE SPREAD AND THE MUD HE MADE THE EARTH. HE TRAAVELED FOR A LONG TIME. WHEN HE FINISHED HE SAID,"NOW WE HAVE THE EARTH, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WANT TO BE HERE". THEY HEARD WOLF HOWLING ..THERE HE IS. COYOTE POINTED TO THE SUN AND SAID LISTEN, THERE IS ANOTHER ONE OUT THERE NOW. "THAT COYOTE HAS ATTAINED LIFE BY HIS OWN POWERS", COYOTE SAID. THEN THEY WENT FOR A WALK ON THE PLAINS THEY SAW SOME SHINING OBJECTS. THEY SAW THEY WERE MEDICINE STONE.

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