Algonquin Identity
The ALGONQUIN are an ethno-linguistic language family to which the Lnug belong. This particular group was traditionally one of the largest in pre-imperial North America. While early estimates of North America's population stated that the continent had roughly a near million inhabitants anthropologists now estimate the population to have been between 10-100 million people, with Tenochtitlan being the 1st ancient world city identified to have breached the million citizen mark.
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This estimation was deduced from 3 truths. First the accumulation of various dwellings still being exhumed today, then calculations of traditional crop yields which originally went unidentified as crops, and finally the incentivized propensity for early "explorers" to embellish the desolate nature of the lands they had invaded.
While there isn't enough evidence currently to suggest a reasonable estimation of what the Algonquin pre-imperial population number was precisely we can safely say that upon the eve of 1492 the Algonquin were the most populace peoples of North America.
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While much more needs to be learned there are a few conclusions we can surmise about shared early Algonquin history. First, that the dome shaped "wigwam" style of architecture appears to have started with the Algonquin as opposed to the long house style of the Haudenosaunee, or the tipi styles common to plains Natives. Wood wasn't the only medium that ancient Algonquin built with either, as we frequently see mound, subterranean Earth homes, long stonewalled structures and stone lined riverbanks which predate the imperialist age.
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Secondly that water was a way of life in the culture of the early Algonquin; indeed we mastered it. Water was not only the primary source of food, and an indispensable tool of our extensive agricultural practices, but also the primary mode of transportation. All Algonquin settlements are found connected to major river systems and significant bodies of water. The Algonquin appear to have adapted the natural infrastructure of the continent not unlike the examples found in Tenochtitlan of central America, to the Pueblos of the four corners region, or the lake Titicaca. We guided rivers widen and removed the barriers of trade and progress creating the largest uninterrupted river transportation system in the world!
Algonquin Nations Include​​
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A'ani
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Abenaki
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Agawam
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Aquinnah
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Assawompsett-Nemasket
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Atikamekw
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Baasanwuune'nan
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Cahokia
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Chappaquiddick
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Chepoussa
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Cheyenne
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Chickahominy
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Chinkoa
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Chowanoke
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Coiracoentanon
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Cree
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Croatan
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Espeminkia
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Hánahawuuena
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Hinono'eino
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Illiniwek
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Kainai
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Kaskaskia
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Kikapú
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Machapunga,
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Maliseet
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Maroa
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Mashpee
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Massachusett,
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Mattaponi
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Menominee
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Miami
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Michigamea
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Mississaugas
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Miꞌkmaq
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Mohegan
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Moingwena
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Nantucket
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Nanwacinaha'ana
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Narragansett
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Naskapi
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Naumkeag,
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Nauset
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Niantic
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Niitsitapi
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Nipissing
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Nipmuc
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Odawa,
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Oji-Cree
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Ojibway
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Omàmiwininì
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Pamlico
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Pamunkey
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Passamaquoddy
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Pawtuxet
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Penobscot
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​​Peoria
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Pequot
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Piankeshaw
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Piikani,
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Piscataway
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Pocasset
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Pokanoket
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Pottowatomi,
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Powhatan
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Roanoac
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Saulteaux
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Shawnee,
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Shawomet
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Siksika
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Siksikaitsitapi
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Tamaroa
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Tapouara
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Wampanoag
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Wea
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Yaocomico
Modern
Lnug & Mi'kmaq
History
Upon the arrival of the newcomers in 1604 Saqmaq, like Saqmaw Panounias, harboured high hopes for the europeans. We attempted to foster positive relationships with them. There had been no way to interpret what was yet to come so Saqmaw Panounias agreed to be a guide & brought a security detail with he and his wife Marguerite Amerindienne. Marguerite, whose original name is lost to history was to be the main interpreter while touring Abenaki territory. She was an Abenaki woman, whose marriage to Saqmaw Panounias may have sealed the recent peace between our 2 peoples. The Abenaki remain the western neighbouring nation of the Lnug today. The newcomers under the leadership of Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons, were invited to build their habitation near the boarder of Lnug & Abenaki lands on the eastern coast of Sigunikt bay (of Fundy). We Lnug, even aided in their construction. We can only speculate at this point as to why, but Marguerite appears to have disagreed with the touring party. On July 9th, 1605 the party met with Saqmaw Olemechin of the Abenaki nation. At this point Marguerite chose to abandon the party & her husband, never to be recorded by history again.
As she was the main interpreter it isn't any surprise that the communication broke down after her departure. Details are scant but at some point while still in Abenaki territory a conflict was stirred leading to the deaths of several of the touring party including Saqmaw Panounias. This meant war! Perhaps not wanting to remain neutral or to gain favour with the winning side, the Peskotomuhkati Saqmaw Ouagimou petitioned and secured the body of Panounias from Olemechin. He then released it to Kji-Saqmaw Membertou & the Lnug people for a proper burial. After which Ouagimou & his Peskotomuhkati joined the Lnug in declaring war on Saqmaw Olemechin's Abenaki.
In 1610 Kji-Saqmaw Membertou's Schism , defines the start of modern Lnug & Mi'kmaq history as before this there was only one people. We had referred to ourselves solely as the Lnug. However with the adoption of the Catholic religion through Kji-Saqmaw's directive, the Mi'kmaq began viewing the Europeans in a very positive ordained light. As such they began to view intermarriage with the French-Catholic Europeans as a way to become closer to their new faith & their new God. Those who had heavy interaction with the Europeans began to be called & subsequently began to refer to themselves as Mi'kmaq, which was the term they had used to greet their "friends" the Europeans.
Though they had known European contact before this was different. With these began a new trend of European immigrants arriving on our shores, not as humble grateful migrants escaping the tyranny of religious persecution, nor as confined exiles relegated to their secure penal colonies, but these were insistent imposing conquers who masqueraded as friends while brandishing guns in front of veiled threats.
Intermarriage gradually began lightening the Mi'kmaq's physical complexion & hair texture. While those Lnug who rejected European culture largely became lost to history. They would begin to complain about abduction. The
Settlers seem to have been determined to claim lands not afforded to them by international Treaty
agreements. These were early forms of what we today refer to as "encroachment". It wasn't only the
Lnug/Mi'kmaq experiencing these violating acts of war in their territory. Indeed these continued
provocations led to hostilities, through-out all North-eastern Algonquin nations. The British were
naughty antagonistic neighbours who had not only made enemies of Natives, but of their fellow
Europeans the French-Acadians. They had become a threat to all Nations thus the various peoples
of the dawn lands decided to form a permanent defence alliance called the Wabanaki Confederacy.
To ensure they'd be a formidable force they then allied themselves with the Acadians to ensure victory.
However it would be the Wampanoag Saqmaw Pometacomet, whose patience for the foreigners
evaporated first.
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In 1677 the Lnug set out to defend their Wampanoag brothers against the British.
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Below is a link showing all the registered reserves of Nova Scotia
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60's Scoop
& Residential
Schools
The Question of when the Residential schools started is a question of definition. There have been many incarnations of these types of programs.
The three main eras of Canadian,
"Forced Juvenile Acculturation" or as the UN terms it, "Genocide" are:
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The Mission Schools - Exclusively Catholic based, no government. Starting January 1st, 1620
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Residential Schools - Mission Schools, now funded by the federal government, 1876
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60's Scoop era - 1951 Provincially conducted.
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Without the mental, conditioning of european customs & expectations, threats (which will be expanded on shortly), and the religious conversion (that the Canadian Catholic Mission Schools & Residential schools) enforced, the 60's scoop could not have occurred. The mission of "taking the Indian out of the child" was one that was all too successful against most of us. From the 1st of Jan 1620 when good-willed Lnug offered up our children to be taught by our perceived "friends" until now when we continue to attend Euro-centric centres of education, we have only digressed further into misfortune. The 1960's scoop was the beginning of the final stage of their ultimate goal of total land acquisition, which had started nearly 400 years earlier.
The process of outlawing Indigenous-identity was accomplished through criminalizing indigenous customs, traditions, and culture. This forced a coercion that demand those remaining dark-skinned Lnug (& other dark-skinned Natives) to choose to identify as "Black" on Canadian census records and other government documents. This complicated process divided 1 Race into 2.
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The association of dark skinned Natives with the term Black Negro etc. simultaneously implied a direct hereditary relationship with Africans, and further disassociated the Black-Indigenous with our heritage and culture.
