Wabanaki HistoriesWabanaki Histories

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David PerleyDavid Perley

David Perley, Tobique First NationDavid Perley, Tobique First Nation

Wabanaki HistoriesWabanaki Histories

• Timeline is circular rather than linearTimeline is circular rather than linear• Center of attention are Wabanaki nations Center of attention are Wabanaki nations

as they evolve through timeas they evolve through time• Analysis of Wabanaki histories require Analysis of Wabanaki histories require

recognition of oral tradition as a valid and recognition of oral tradition as a valid and reliable source of informationreliable source of information

• Traditional knowledge conveyed in oral Traditional knowledge conveyed in oral tradition brings together the beginnings of tradition brings together the beginnings of a body of information that sheds light on a body of information that sheds light on history, culture, and traditionshistory, culture, and traditions

David Perley, Tobique First NationDavid Perley, Tobique First Nation

Wabanaki HistoriesWabanaki Histories

• History of Maine and Atlantic Canada History of Maine and Atlantic Canada is relatively recent compared to the is relatively recent compared to the history of Wabanaki nationshistory of Wabanaki nations

• Historical analysis of Wabanaki nations Historical analysis of Wabanaki nations should include origins, Wabanaki should include origins, Wabanaki civilizations flourishing, destruction civilizations flourishing, destruction and oppression of Wabanaki nations, and oppression of Wabanaki nations, and rebuilding of Wabanaki societiesand rebuilding of Wabanaki societies

David Perley, Tobique First NationDavid Perley, Tobique First Nation

““Maritime History”Maritime History”Archaeological PerspectiveArchaeological Perspective

• Early PeriodEarly Period10,600 – 6,000 years ago10,600 – 6,000 years agoPaleo-IndianPaleo-Indian

• Middle PeriodMiddle Period6,000 – 3,000 years ago6,000 – 3,000 years agoLaurentianLaurentianMaritime archaicMaritime archaicSusquahannaSusquahanna

David Perley, Tobique First NationDavid Perley, Tobique First Nation

““Maritime” HistoryMaritime” HistoryArchaeological PerspectiveArchaeological Perspective

• Late PeriodLate Period

3,000 – 500 years ago3,000 – 500 years ago

Maritime WoodlandMaritime Woodland

• Historic PeriodHistoric Period

Beginning 500 years agoBeginning 500 years ago

Wabanaki peopleWabanaki people

David Perley, Tobique First NationDavid Perley, Tobique First Nation

OriginsOriginsLost Tribes of IsraelLost Tribes of Israel

• The bible mentions the twelve The bible mentions the twelve “tribes” of Israel“tribes” of Israel

• Europeans thought that Aboriginal Europeans thought that Aboriginal people were descendents of the two people were descendents of the two lost “tribes” of Israellost “tribes” of Israel

• In particular, it was believed that the In particular, it was believed that the Mayas were one of the lost “tribes”Mayas were one of the lost “tribes”

David Perley, Tobique First NationDavid Perley, Tobique First Nation

OriginsOriginsAboriginal People from EgyptAboriginal People from Egypt

• Indigenous people in central and Indigenous people in central and south America used to build huge south America used to build huge temples and pyramidstemples and pyramids

• Some of these pyramids look very Some of these pyramids look very much like the pyramids of Egyptmuch like the pyramids of Egypt

• Therefore, the Mayas, Incas, Aztecs, Therefore, the Mayas, Incas, Aztecs, and other Indigenous people were and other Indigenous people were thought to originate from Egyptthought to originate from Egypt

David Perley, Tobique First NationDavid Perley, Tobique First Nation

OriginsOriginsJomon TheoryJomon Theory

Theory suggests that Aboriginal Theory suggests that Aboriginal civilizations originated in Japan civilizations originated in Japan because the tops of pots from a because the tops of pots from a certain location of Japan are similar certain location of Japan are similar to the tops made in a location of Peruto the tops made in a location of Peru

David Perley, Tobique First NationDavid Perley, Tobique First Nation

OriginsOriginsBering Strait TheoryBering Strait Theory

• Many anthropologists believe that Many anthropologists believe that human life first appeared in parts of human life first appeared in parts of eastern Africaeastern Africa

• They advanced the notion that They advanced the notion that people eventually migrated into people eventually migrated into other parts of Africa, Europe, and other parts of Africa, Europe, and AsiaAsia

David Perley, Tobique First NationDavid Perley, Tobique First Nation

OriginsOriginsBering Strait TheoryBering Strait Theory

• Approximately 40,000 years ago, Approximately 40,000 years ago, northeastern Asia and Alaska were northeastern Asia and Alaska were connected by dry landconnected by dry land

• Family groups of hunters began to Family groups of hunters began to travel by foot from Asia into Alaskatravel by foot from Asia into Alaska

David Perley, Tobique First NationDavid Perley, Tobique First Nation

OriginsOriginsTheory of Independent EvolutionTheory of Independent Evolution

• Process of creation took millions of Process of creation took millions of years to completeyears to complete

• Humans developed independently in Humans developed independently in a number of locations in Europe, a number of locations in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the “Americas”Africa, Asia, and the “Americas”

• Theory consistent with Medicine Theory consistent with Medicine Wheel Teachings i.e. four colors of Wheel Teachings i.e. four colors of the human familythe human family

David Perley, Tobique First NationDavid Perley, Tobique First Nation

OriginsOriginsCreation Stories of Wabanaki Creation Stories of Wabanaki

PeoplePeople

• Mi’kmaq Creation StoryMi’kmaq Creation Story

• Wolastoq Creation StoryWolastoq Creation Story

• Penobscot Creation StoryPenobscot Creation Story

• Passsamaquoddy Creation StoryPasssamaquoddy Creation Story