Researching my Native heritage for Native American Heritage Day

Today is Native American Heritage Day. Most Americans will boast about a family story which involves an ancestor who was Native American. Most of those stories are proved to be false as they dig into their family history. Growing up I heard a story from both sides of my family tree. My maternal side had a story of a Canadian Indian princess from my grandfather’s paternal side. That story has been proven false through records research as well as genetic testing. However, the story on my paternal side has proven to be correct. My research has revealed that Emilie Marie (nee Bottineau) LaPointe, my 4^th great grandmother, was Cree Indian, born around 1797/1799 around Red River, Manitoba, Canada. Further research has revealed that her mother, Marie Techomegood, my 5^th great grandmother, was Assiniboine Indian born about 1780 around Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. I decided to look deeper into the Cree and Assiniboine tribes.

Cree Indians are one of the largest groups of the First Nations in North America. Majority of Cree in Canada live in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. The name “Cree” is derived from the Algonkian language, Kiristino, which the Ojibwa used for tribes around Hudson Bay. Historically, the Cree were hunter-gatherers who were strongly associated with the fur trade in North America. Lodges were the basic unit consisting of 8-12 people. Bands were a group of lodges who moved and hunted together. Bands usually had strong ties with neighboring bands through intermarriage and would gather for hunts and socialization. Their number would expand rapidly in the 17^th and 18^th centuries as they profited from the fur trade (Encyclopedia Britannica). Given the traditional acceptance of the Cree for intermarriages, many bands are ultimately of mixed heritages. Those with mixed heritages in Canada is known as Metis, which is French for mixed ancestry. Canada’s Indian and Northern Affairs broadly define Metis as those with First Nations and European ancestry. Today, “early 21st-century population estimates indicated some 90,000 individuals of Cree descent” (Encyclopedia Britannica). It’s exciting to know that I am one of those 90,000 individuals.

Assiniboine Indians are also known as “stone Sioux” or Hohe Nakota who inhabited the Northern Great Plains of North America. They grew into one of the largest and powerful with a horse and warrior culture. At their height, their territory ranged from North Saskatchewan River to the Missouri River. Well known throughout the late 18^th and early 19^th century, Assiniboine tribes were members of the Iron Confederacy along with the Cree. From 1692 to the late 19^th century, the Iron Confederacy were important intermediaries in the Great Plains trading networks with the Hudson Bay Company. The most commonly furs traded were beaver and bison. In return, they would obtain guns, ammo, metal items such as tomahawks and pots, wool items, such as blankets, coasts and leggings, glass beads and other goods. “Their new wealth as traders, successful horsemen, respected warriors and as providers of fresh meat to the numerous trading posts reached a peak from the 1780s to the early 1800s” (Getty, 2020). This period covers the roughly the lifetime of Marie Techomegood and the childhood of Emilie Marie. Sadly, as with many Native tribes, the Assiniboine suffered greatly through wars and epidemics like smallpox.

The traditional lifestyles and culture of the Cree and Assiniboine were semi-nomadic as they would follow and hunt the bison during the warmer months and settled for the winter months. Women had primary responsibilities within the bands. They gathered and cultivated plants for food and medicines. They cared for the young and the elderly. They made the clothing and instruments. They processed and cured the meat and skins, reserving the meat for winter.  Every part of the animals would be used. Hides, tendons, and horns were used for clothing, bedding, tools, and cords. If they could use it, they would. The men were excellent horsemen who hunted, traded, and battled on horseback using bows and arrows. Girls and women were encouraged to learn to ride. Hunt and fight. While the main fighting was left up to the boys and men, women and girls were often called upon for defense of the home as well as offense in battle. Men and women took part in storytelling, artwork, music, and medicine. The Cree and Assiniboine believed that the Sun god and Thunder god were the most important manifestations of the Great Spirit. Bands would participate in an annual Sun Dance.

It was a lot of fun researching my great grandmothers. My 4^th great grandmother, Emilie, died around 1850. Her mother, Marie Techomegood, died around 1815. While reading about the historical events of their lifetimes, I would imagine what it was like for them to experience their events, to hear about them. What were their thoughts? Feelings? Reactions? While I may never know the answers, I feel a connection to them and our shared heritage. My thought is that Techomegood was my 5^th great grandmother’s given name and she possibly took the name, Marie, when she married. I’ve also discovered that Techomegood possibly translates to “Clear Sky Woman.” After discovering Emilie Marie and Marie Techomegood’s native heritage, it was fun and eye-opening researching their possible tribes, its history and culture. I look forward to furthering my research and reading more about the Cree and Assiniboine, to learn more about the people and their stories.

 

References

 

Encyclopedia Britannica. www.britannica.com/topic/Cree. Retrieved November 25, 2020.

 

Getty, Ian A.L. (August 4, 2020) Assiniboine. The Canadian Encyclopedia www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/assiniboine. Retrieved November 25, 2020.