History
What did they rely on to live?
Relying on hunting, fishing, and gathering for sustenance.
How are Innu people able to survive outdoors?
Intimate knowledge of their environment,
What is one thing Elders are responsible for?
Keepers of Knowledge, storytelling, advisors, leaders
What did Innu youth experience in residential schools
Abuse, neglect, loss of family connection
Where do the Innu people reside?
Primarily reside in the northeastern regions of the country, specifically in the provinces of Quebec and Labrador.
Did the Innu people trade? Yes or No and with who?
Historically, the Innu traded with other Indigenous groups and, later, with European settlers during the fur trade era.
How are two ways they are working to preserve their way of life?
Cultural education, land-based programs, and youth engagement initiatives.
What are two things hunters and providers are responsible for?
Men must hunt, teach the next generation.
What does intergenerational trauma mean?
The trauma of residential schools and colonial policies has been passed down through generations, affecting how some parents and caregivers interact with their children.
What is the traditional territory known as?
Nitassinan
What type of hunting is central to their lives?
What did their semi-nomadic life consist of?
Centered around the seasons, with families traveling to hunt caribou in winter and fishing or berry picking in summer.
What were protectors historically responsible for?
defending the community and guarding the land.
What did children have to lose when they were at residential schools?
Children lost regular access to the land and its teachings, which had been central to their upbringing.
What language family are they apart of?
The Innu are part of the Algonquian language family and have a rich cultural and spiritual heritage.
What does this word translate to? “kàtshinamits”
Shaman
What are the Innu peoples spiritual beliefs?
The Innu have a deep spiritual connection to the land and animals. They believe in the presence of spirits in all living things and perform ceremonies to honor and respect nature.
What does the land of their traditional terrritory look like?
Encompasses vast areas of forests, mountains, rivers, and lakes.
What are ways they are going about reclaiming their identities today?
Advocate for recognition of the harm caused by residential schools and to rebuild their communities through cultural revitalization, language preservation, and the assertion of their rights.
What 3 lessons does their culture offer?
They offer knowledge about sustainability, respect for the environment, and the importance of maintaining cultural identity