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The
Algonquins did some farming, but mostly hunted for their food. The farming
that they did do was growing corn. They used fish to fertilize their crops.
They also tapped maple trees for sap to make sugar. The Algonquin Indians
that lived on the coast had clambakes in which they ate clams, oysters,
lobsters, mussels and other shellfish. during these clambakes they wrapped
fish in seaweed then cooked it in a pit dug in the earth.
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The
Algonquins usually wore little clothing. they made most of their clothing
from elk and deer hides. They decorated them with shells, stones, seeds,
paint, dyes, and porcupine needles. They also wore belts, leggings, and
moccasins. In the winter they made fur lined shawls and wove turkey down
robes. The women wore wrap around skirts. The men wore breechcloths.
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The Algonquin Indians lived in villages of 800 or 900 Indians. They built dome shaped wigwams from saplings covered with birch, chestnut, oak, or elm. They placed bark and animal hides over the roof. They hung moose hide in the doorway with a pole sewn to the bottom to hold the door down. Inside the wigwam cedar branches and rush mats covered the ground. The beds were made of spruce boughs covered with skins. The larger houses were made so that more than one family could live in them. Their shape was called wigawassawigamig. They looked like a book standing on an open edge.
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Every
6 months the Algonquins came together for a powwow. Each tribe brought
their chief to the powwow. It was an occasion for feasting and dancing.
Arguments were settled , alliances were formed and trading was completed.
The men made canoes, traps, utensils, and weapons. They used spears to help them catch fish and eels from the bow of their canoes. The women wove fishnets, mats, bark containers, and some tribes made birch bark boxes decorated with porcupine quills. The Algonquins hung dream catchers from cradle boards to protect the babies. They believed that the dream catcher would catch bad dreams and allow good dreams to go through. |