While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
here. So we thought we'd share a few of our gardening sites appropriate
for this time of the year. Along with gardening, there's grilling, and getting
ready to diet so that you can fit back into that bathing suit this summer!
Montagnais (French 'mountaineers', from
the mountainous character of their country). A group of closely
related Algonquian tribes in Canada, extending from about St
Maurice river almost to the Atlantic, and from the St Lawrence
to the watershed of Hudson bay. The tribes of the group speak
several well-marked dialects. They are the Astouregamigoukh,
Attikiriniouetch, Bersiamite, Chisedec, Escoumains, Espamichkon,
Kakouchaki, Mauthaepi, Miskouaha, Mouchaouaouastiirinioek,
Nascapee, Nekoubaniste, Otaguottouemin, Oukesestigouek,
Oumamiwek, Papinachois, Tadousac, and Weperigweia. Their
linguistic relation appears to be closer with the Cree of
Athabasca lake, or Ayabaskawininiwug, than with any other branch
of the Algonquian family. Champlain met them at the mouth of the
Saguenay in 1603, where they and other Indians were celebrating
with bloody rites the capture of Iroquois prisoners. Six years
later he united with them the Hurons and Algonkin in an
expedition against the Iroquois. In the first Jesuit Relation,
written by Biard (1611-16) they are spoken of as friends of the
French. From that time their name has a place in Canadian
history, though they exerted no decided influence on the
settlement and growth of the colony. The first missionary work
among them was begun in 1615, and missions were subsequently
established on the upper Saguenay and at L. St John. These were
continued, though with occasional and long interruptions, until
1776. The Montagnais fought the Micmac, and often the Eskimo,
but their chief and inveterate foes were the Iroquois, who drove
them for a time from the banks of the St Lawrence and from their
strongholds about the upper Saguenay, compelling them to seek
safety at more distant points. After peace was established
between the French and the Iroquois they returned to their usual
haunts. Lack of proper food, epidemics, and contact with
civilization are reducing their numbers. Turner
(11th Rep. B. A. E., 1894) says they roam over the areas
south of Hamilton inlet as far as the Gulf of St Lawrence. Their
western limits are imperfectly known. They trade at all the
stations along the accessible coast, many of them at Rigolet and
Northwest river. Sagard, in 1632, described them as Indians of
the lowest type in Canada. Though they have occasionally fought
with bravery, they are comparatively timid. They have always
been more less nomadic and, although accepting the teachings of
the missionaries, seem incapable of resigning the freedom of the
forest for life in villages, nor can they be induced to
cultivate the soil as a means of support. Mr. Chisholm describes
them as honest, hospitable, and benevolent, but very
superstitious. Those who were induced to settle on the lower St
Lawrence appear to be subject to sickness, which is thinning
their numbers. All who have not been brought directly under
religious influence are licentious. Conjuring was much practiced
by their medicine-men. Some of the early missionaries speak
highly of their religious susceptibility. They bury their dead
in the earth, digging a-hole 3 ft deep and occasionally lining
it with wood. The corpse is usually laid on its side, though it
is sometimes placed in a sitting position. Above the grave is
built a little birch-bark hut and through a window the relatives
thrust bits of tobacco, venison, and other morsels. No reliable
estimate can be given of their former numbers, but it is known
that they have greatly decreased from sickness and starvation
consequent on the destruction of game. In 1812 they were
supposed to number about 1,500; in 1857 they were estimated at
1,100, and in 1884 they were officially reported at 1,395,
living at Betsiamits, (Bersimis), Escoumains, Godbout, Grand
Romaine, Lake St John, and Mingan, in Quebec. In 1906 they,
together with the Nascapee, numbered, according to the Canadian
official report, 2,183, distributed as follows: Bersimis, 499;
Escoumains, 43; Natashquan, 76; Godbout, 40; Grand Romaine, 176;
Lake St John, 551; Mingan, 241; St Augustine, 181; Seven Islands
and Moisie, 376. Consult Chamberlain in Ann. Archmeol. Rep.
Ontario 1905, 122, 1906.
The bands and villages of the Montagnais are:
Appeelatat, Assuapmushan, Attikamegue, Bonne Espérance,
Chicoutimi, Esquimaux Point, Godbout, Ile Percee (mission),
Itamameou (mission), Islets de Jeremie (mission),
Kapiminakouetiik, Mauthaepi, Mingan, Moisie, Mushkoniatawee,
Musquarro, Nabisippi, Natashquan, Pashasheebo, Romaine, and St
Augustine.
