The Algonquin are Indigenous peoples that have traditionally occupied parts of western Quebec and Ontario, centring on the Ottawa River and its tributaries. Algonquin should not be confused with Algonquian, which refers to a larger linguistic and cultural group, including First Nations such as Innu and Cree. In the 2016 census, 40,880 people identified as having Algonquin ancestry.
The traditional home of the Algonquin was the wigwam. These dome-shaped structures were easy to put together as they were made from local materials. They were sturdy and able to withstand all sorts of conditions. These features suited the active lifestyle of the Algonquin. The Algonquin could easily move their homes to follow animals as needed. When the Algonquin moved, they would often take the wigwam’s covering with them, but leave the poles behind. This way, they would not have to rebuild the frame when they returned to the area.
Wigwams provided shelter from the weather. However, they also contained many items the Algonquin needed to survive. Cooking was done over the firepit in the firepit in the centre of the wigwam.
The Algonquin needed clothing for a range of weather. During the warm months of summer, men wore moose or deer hide that covered the lower parts of their body. Women wore sleeveless, tunic-style dresses, also made from hides The arrival of Europeans influenced clothing. Algonquin began to make clothing that looked like that of the newcomers. An Algonquin mother carried her baby on her back using a cradleboard.
Algonquin communities grew corn and squash in small gardens, but most Algonquins only got foods like those in trade with neighboring tribes. Besides fish and meat, the Algonquins gathered berries and wild plants to eat.