Decision Making
What does consensus mean?
When everyone agrees and makes a decision together
What was the Wabanaki Confederacy?
A group of First Nations who worked together
What is a treaty?
An agreement or promise between groups
Name two things the Wabanaki traded
Furs, fish, maple sugar, corn, beans
What did Wabanaki people do in summer?
Fished, gathered berries, and lived near rivers
Who had to agree before the Wabanaki could make a final decision?
Every person in the group
Name three of the five nations in the Confederacy.
Mi’kmaq, Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet), Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Abenaki
What was the purpose of the Peace and Friendship Treaty?
To have peaceful friendship and share the land respectfully
What did Europeans trade to the Wabanaki?
Beads, jewelry, metal tools, cloth, blankets
What did they do in winter?
Hunted, told stories, and stayed in homes or camps
Why did the Wabanaki use consensus instead of voting?
To make sure everyone’s voice was heard and decisions were fair
What kinds of things did the Confederacy decide on together?
When to hunt, fish, move, make peace, or go to war
Who made the Peace and Friendship Treaties?
The Wabanaki peoples and the British (and sometimes French)
Why was trade important for both groups?
They each got things they didn’t have and needed.
Why did they move with the seasons?
To follow food and use resources wisely
What might happen if not everyone agreed in a Wabanaki meeting?
They kept talking until a solution everyone agreed on was found
Why was the Confederacy important?
It helped the nations stay united and make shared decisions
Why were treaties important to both sides?
They helped avoid conflict and encouraged cooperation
What made the Wabanaki good trading partners?
They knew knowledge of the land, rivers, and natural resources
How did rivers help the Wabanaki people?
For travel, food, and trade
How is consensus different from how decisions are often made today?
Consensus means full agreement and today we often vote and the majority wins.
What values guided Confederacy decisions?
Respect, peace, honesty, unity, truth
What should people do today to honour treaties?
Respect promises, learn about history, protect land and rights.
How did trade build peace and friendship?
It built trust, respect, and cooperation between groups
Think about food and weather — how did seasons affect Wabanaki life?
The seasons decided when they hunted, fished, and moved to new places.