The First Nations of Canada Lesson 2 - The Plateau People

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The Region British Columbia is a mountainous region in Canada. Between the coastal ranges of the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains that run down the border of Alberta, there lies a plateau region that is rich in natural resources. The First Nation groups that settled this region became known as the Plateau People.

Where did they come from? Historians are unsure as to exactly how various groups arrived in the plateau region. Whatever the case, thousands of years ago several tribes made the Plateau region their home. Sadly, the Plateau People were not well studied before non-native contact. An understanding of their traditional way of life before meeting Europeans is not available. Most of the Plateau Tribes have at least two names as the Europeans didn’t thoroughly understand the distinctions in their cultures, and didn’t always ask tribes what name they were known by in their own language.

The People The groups who lived on the Plateau include: the Secwepemc, Stl’atl’imc, Nlaka'pamux, Okanagan, Ktunaxa, Tsilhqot’in, Dakelh, Stl’atl’imc, and Nlaka’pamux.

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Some of these groups had strong similarities. Such was the case with the Tsilhqot’in and Dakelh - both Dene groups who spoke dialects of the Dene language family. The Secwepemc, Stl’atl’imc, Nlaka'pamux, and Okanagan were all part of the Salishan language family. The Ktuknaxa people, who lived on the border of the Plateau region, spoke a language isolate, meaning there is no clear relationship between their language and any other. Plateau Homes Most of the Plateau First Nation groups lived in permanent villages in the winter, and semi-permanent dwellings in the summer that were more convenient for hunting.

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The Plateau People lived in three different styles of home: pit houses, conical mat houses, and A-frame mat longhouses.

The pit house was a unique Plateau First Nation dwelling, not used in any other region of North America. A hole was dug of 3-6 feet, with a conical roof made of logs and covered the hole. Earth, brush, moss and other natural substances were used to cover and insulate the roof. Many variations on the pit house design existed, with some homes having just a hole and a ladder on the roof for entrance, while others would have doors. The pit house was primarily used in villages for winter dwelling.

The conical mat house was a tipi-like structure that initially consisted of long poles placed in a circle, covered by tule reed mats. Conical mat houses were used in the hunting season, as they were easier to move.

The A-frame mat longhouses were rectangular dwellings, found in villages. They housed as little as one family to as many as three generations.

Like most First Nation groups, the Plateau

The First Nations of Canada // Lesson 2 // The Plateau People pg. 7

Food Plateau First Nations had a diet that consisted of fish, large and small game, nuts, berries, roots, and some plants. Salmon were an important staple food in their diet, and communal fishing grounds ensured everyone got their share during the annual spawning season. Deer, Elk, Bear, and other small game were caught with various trapping techniques such as pitfalls, as well as traditional hunting tools like bows and arrows.

Plateau Society Anthropologists did not observe the Plateau First Nations until the late 1800’s. By that time there traditional culture had changed dramatically with the impact of European fur traders and settlers.

Men and women worked together in plateau society, but men were the main decision makers for a village or tribe. Within a village, various men took on key roles such as the salmon chief, the hunting chief, the warfare chief, etc.

Most decisions in a village were not made by a single person, but by many men in the village, leaning on their elder’s advice. Religion Like most First Nation groups, the Plateau People practiced variations of animism. Villages had shamans who acted as connections to the spirit world.

The guardian spirit dance was a festivity that happened at one point in time in most Plateau First Nation communities. Organized by the shaman, it was a chance for him or her to show his powers to the community. The host or hostess would offer healing to their village, and give gifts to their guests.

Songs and stories were a major part of the Plateau life. Singing accompanied by flute and hide covered drum was common in the various tribes. Stories were passed down from generation to generation, explaining the origin of the world and people, as well as sharing important lessons needed for survival.

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The Plateau way of life was impacted by Europeans well before Fur Traders began to explore in the 18th and 19th century. Horses were initially introduced well south of the Plateau region, but through trade they made their way up to the Plateau Tribes. The mobility of the horse transformed some Plateau First Nation groups into more nomadic cultures – similar to the Plains Natives who lived east of them.

When fur traders did arrive, they brought with them diseases that saw many perish in the region. The traditional way of life was majorly disrupted, the plateau land wasn’t well protected for Native use, and many were forced into European schooling and ways of life. More recently there has been a positive push in Plateau First Nation communities to learn the traditional ways and embrace their ancestry.

Think It Through A. When Europeans discovered the Plateau First Nations, do you agree they were ignorant of the unique cultures? State TWO pieces of evidence from the reading in your answer. B. What made the Ktuknaxa people so unique compared to other groups in the plateau region? C. The Plateau First Nations lived in three different styles of home. Which style of home would you have chosen to live in? Give TWO reasons for your answer. DRAW and LABEL an accurate depiction of the home you chose. D. Why were communal (shared) fishing grounds helpful to Plateau First Nations? Can you think of an example of a communal thing that is used today? E. How did Plateau First Nations make important community decisions? Do you think modern people have a better system for making community decisions, OR, could we learn something from the First Nations’ way? F. How did the arrival of the horse, a new animal in North America, change the Plateau Peoples’ way of life?

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Vocabulary // Lesson 2

The Plateau Peoples

Plateau Region A relatively flat region that is typically located between a coastal mountain range and another mountain range that leads to the interior of a continent. Dene An ancient native culture that many other First Nation groups can trace their ancestry, too. Usually groups in this family share similar language structures, oral traditions, and ways of life. Salishan A language family that many groups can trace their ancestry and heritage to. Ktuknaxa A first nation group who spoke a language isolate, indicating they are potentially the last remaining people of what was once larger tribal group. Language Isolate A language that has no connection to other known languages. This often indicates a tribe has a unique history and ancestry that is different than other groups. Pit House A form of housing known only to be built in the Plateau region where a hole was dug in the ground, and a dome framed roof was built with trees, grass and mud. Conical Mat House A tipi-like conical home covered in reed mats. A-Frame Mat House A longhouse shaped like a rectangular prism, covered in reed mats and capable of housing 2-3 generations of a family. Pitfalls A hunting technique where a large hole was dug and covered to look like solid ground. An animal would fall in and then be killed for food, tools, fur, etc. The Guardian Spirit Dance A native dance ceremony organized by the Shaman to show off his or her powers, and for the host to give lavish gifts to all guests.

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Assignment Pick FIVE vocabulary words and write a paragraph about the Plateau People that uses those words correctly.

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