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I. The Micmac Indians
The Micmac, in their contemporary spelling mi Imaq, are the northeastern most Algonquian speakers in North America. Their own name elms means the people; mi'kmaq translates into allies. The culture and economy of the Micmac fits the typical northern fishermen and hunter pattern. Moose and deer, wild berries, fish and other seafood were their most common food stuff. In contrast to their northern neighbors they did not plant nor engage in any other horticultural activities. During the early contact period, estimates suggest a population of 4,000 people; today Micmac number about 30,000 in the Canadian Maritimes. Micmac country consists of dense forests, hilly countryside dotted with lakes, numerous meandering rivers, which empty into the shallow bays of the Atlantic. There are plenty of natural harbors. The winters are quite harsh, and a short growth period in the summer limits agriculture and grain production.
In this environment transportation was important; specially adapted canoes, snowshoes and sleds (toboggans in Micmac), as well as portable birch bark huts allowed for a well-adjusted way of life according to the seasons. In the fall Micmac divided themselves up into small groups, which often consisted only of two or three nuclear families. Larger groups could not survive in this environment. The annual cycle was composed of a sequence of diffuse and compact settlement patterns. Seasonal migrations followed food sources: wild berries, tubers, nuts and herbs (also used for medicine). During winter the diet consisted of primarily dried meat, dried fish and lard. European bread did at first not appeal to the Micmac. Other animals such as otter, beaver, porcupine, seal, water birds and other fowl were used for food and clothing according to the yearly cycle. In the spring, during the time of the snowmelt, shellfish, herring, salmon and other fish were part of the menu. This large and varied menu allowed for settlements up to 200 people at the traditional meeting spots along the shallow coves and on the riverbanks. There were big kettles--hollowed out tree trunks--in which cooking was done with hot stones immersed into the water [Bock 1978:109-122].
The larger settlements were inhabited by bands. In pre-contact times there was never a structured hierarchy among the Micmac. The bordering groups of the Algonquian language...