CULTURE
Origins
The Plateau people have a very low population. They are very rare to find in Canada. Information is hard to about these people. These people lived in plateau regions of Canada, hence the name “Plateau people.” The location of their origination is still a mystery. But some believe they came from the Subarctic or South America. Archaeologists assume that at least 10,000 years ago, not long after the glaciers from the most recent ice age diminished, the Plateau was populated by indigenous peoples who had migrated northward from more southerly areas of this same Plateau. Over time there emerged a culture, adapted to the forested mountains, sage- and cactus-covered hills, and riverine resources of the area.
The Plateau people have a very low population. They are very rare to find in Canada. Information is hard to about these people. These people lived in plateau regions of Canada, hence the name “Plateau people.” The location of their origination is still a mystery. But some believe they came from the Subarctic or South America. Archaeologists assume that at least 10,000 years ago, not long after the glaciers from the most recent ice age diminished, the Plateau was populated by indigenous peoples who had migrated northward from more southerly areas of this same Plateau. Over time there emerged a culture, adapted to the forested mountains, sage- and cactus-covered hills, and riverine resources of the area.
These are the Plateau Peoples
Mythology
The Plateau people had many myths and legends that were passed on through generations which mainly involved the creator “Coyote”. The belief was that Coyote was responsible for bringing salmon up the river every fall and spring. The creator was also responsible for transforming people into their present day form.
Plateau Natives gathered together, united as one.
Ceremonies
Throughout the year the Plateau people held ceremonies to mark special occasions.
The arrival of spring was an important time for the Plateau People.
Celebrations were held at the the start of spring to mark the first salmon run or the appearance of the first berries. Music and dancing played a big role in the ceremonies, and were used to summon up religious powers. It was mainly singing, but they used other instruments like bird-bone flutes, rattles. stick striking boards , and hide covered wooden drums.
Plateau Natives in their ceremonial clothing
Religion
They believed strongly that there were spirits inhabiting all living and non-living things. The spirits were everywhere, some spirits were good and some were bad. The Plateau peoples had a strong spiritual with nature. They held animals in high regard and some of the most important ones were deer, coyotes and horses. One of the most famous Plateau dances was the Powpow. The Plateau people had an animist religion. They believed there was no separation between daily life and religion. They also received songs while they dream, dreaming was very significant in this culture.
• Shamans
They were the most important religious leaders in Plateau
The Shamans had special powers to heal the sick, control the hunt, and predict the future. They could do so by communication with the spirit world.
• Adolescence Vigils
During adolescence all Plateau people went alone on spiritual vigils.
They fasted and prayed, in hopes that a guardian spirit would appear to them in a vision.
A Shaman, one of the most religious Deer, an animal held in high regard
leaders in the tribe
leaders in the tribe
Language
The languages of the Plateau people can be divided into three main language groups: Athapascan, Salishian, and Ktunaxa.
• Athapascan - The Athabaskan languages which are a part of the Northern Athapascan, are related to the sub-arctic language groups. Athapascan languages:
◦ Tsilhqot'in (Chilcotin)
◦ Carrier
◦ Nicola-Similkameen (language is now extinct)
• Interior Salishan: The Interior Salishan languages are divided into the Northern Interior Salishian languages:
◦ Secwepemc (Shuswap)
◦ Stl'atl'imx (Lillooet)
And the Southern Interior Salishan languages:
◦ Okanagan
◦ Nlaka'pamux (Thompson)
• Ktunaxa: The Ktunaxa language is not related to any other languages in British Columbia. Ktunaxa is spoken by the:
◦ Ktunaxa (Kootenay)
Clothing
The peoples used beads to decorate a lot of their clothing. Most of the beads were made out of soapstone. They also decorated their clothing with paint.
Usually they used geometric patterns to represent different things like:
▪ Blue squares represented a lake.
▪ Red lines represented the earth.
In present day, we do not decorate our clothing with paint or beads. Clothing is now made in factories. Unless you want to do a Do-it-yourself project, humans is most countries do not need to make their own clothing items.
A pair of boots, embellished with paint
Work Cited
Websites used:
https://wearecanadians.wordpress.com/2011/03/14/plateau-people/
http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_groups/fp_plateau5.html
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/aboriginal-people-plateau/
All images were gathered from google images
Image Links:
://wearecanadians.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/plateau-natives.jpg
http://plateauportal.wsulibs.wsu.edu/uploaded/20100315/4b9e/3WSUMASC0035.jpg
http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/images/firstnations/teachers_guide/plains/shaman.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/5f/07/94/5f079462398a5155d0d2d6a9e9cec56e.jpg
http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/images/firstnations/teachers_guide/plains/moccasins.jpg