WEBVTT 00:00:09.718 --> 00:00:14.305 My name is Maryann Longchap. 00:00:14.889 --> 00:00:24.399 When being out in the bush, every type of tree was used and had its uses. 00:00:25.567 --> 00:00:44.502 The black spruce was used for firewood, building homes and its boughs for flooring. 00:00:45.420 --> 00:00:48.423 There is also white birch, 00:00:49.883 --> 00:01:05.940 its bark would be peeled off and used as a firestarter for the woodstove on early mornings. 00:01:05.940 --> 00:01:18.828 The wood from it was used to make snowshoes, shovels and spoons. 00:01:18.828 --> 00:01:27.253 The white birch would be used to make these items 00:01:27.253 --> 00:01:40.892 including baby rattles and every type of snowshoe. 00:01:41.810 --> 00:01:49.567 Also the tamarack, which can also be used for snowshoe making. 00:01:51.611 --> 00:01:56.407 I’ve also heard of it being used for medicines. 00:01:56.407 --> 00:02:03.331 All trees have medicinal properties, there is always a use for them. 00:02:04.207 --> 00:02:16.177 I’ve heard that some people used the tamarack as medicine for coughs. 00:02:19.681 --> 00:02:26.688 Its boughs weren’t used much for anything, I don’t know how the boughs were used. 00:02:27.689 --> 00:02:44.622 There’s also white poplar, I’ve seen paddles made from it and heard it weighs lighter. 00:02:46.207 --> 00:02:56.426 It’s also said its seedlings have medicinal properties. 00:02:57.177 --> 00:03:01.556 Balsam fir is very useful, 00:03:04.726 --> 00:03:08.730 it’s used for medicinal purposes, 00:03:10.190 --> 00:03:19.324 its boughs are used for flooring and it was very nice when it was set up. 00:03:23.286 --> 00:03:28.750 I was also happy using its boughs, they are flatter. 00:03:29.167 --> 00:03:33.338 If you carry them for long periods, they break up. 00:03:33.963 --> 00:03:40.887 The tree sap also has medicinal purposes. 00:03:41.554 --> 00:03:49.229 I heard of it being used for an eye infection that occurs during springtime. 00:03:49.687 --> 00:03:55.818 The tree sap would be placed under the eyelid, 00:03:55.818 --> 00:03:58.238 but I heard it’s very painful. 00:03:58.238 --> 00:04:02.617 However, soon after the person was able to see clearly. 00:04:05.036 --> 00:04:08.957 The cedar was used for fish nets. 00:04:09.707 --> 00:04:18.549 A long time ago, fishnets didn’t have floaters pre-attached, 00:04:18.549 --> 00:04:23.930 they handmade them and were around this size. 00:04:24.180 --> 00:04:29.394 These floaters were very light and would float up. 00:04:30.270 --> 00:04:33.940 Floaters were made from this and attached to the fishnet, 00:04:33.940 --> 00:04:41.114 they were attached in a certain distance from each other and it floated. 00:04:41.572 --> 00:04:49.914 To hold it in place like this, something heavy would be attached 00:04:49.914 --> 00:04:55.712 and it would be a stone about this in size. 00:04:57.046 --> 00:05:01.801 I’ve seen this done using the fishnet. 00:05:02.135 --> 00:05:10.143 I heard that black spruce is good for healing a cut from an axe. 00:05:11.394 --> 00:05:20.278 The internal tissue from the tree bark has a sticky texture 00:05:20.903 --> 00:05:25.992 and it would be placed directly on the cut, either the leg or foot. 00:05:26.993 --> 00:05:33.333 This was used because a long time ago, there wasn’t modern medicine available 00:05:33.333 --> 00:05:38.755 so people would get theirs directly from the bush. 00:05:42.508 --> 00:05:51.768 When an animal was killed, its bones weren’t thrown away but carefully kept. 00:05:52.393 --> 00:05:59.233 The animal's bones, its arms and legs were all taken. 00:05:59.233 --> 00:06:09.869 I’ve also seen the bone being scraped and broken into pieces to make broth. 00:06:10.828 --> 00:06:15.041 Also a long time ago, tea wasn’t as available. 00:06:15.958 --> 00:06:19.128 Labrador tea leaves were used for making it. 00:06:19.962 --> 00:06:24.133 It was the ones that had flowers growing on them. 00:06:24.884 --> 00:06:35.228 It wasn’t really the ones that only had leaves but the ones that had flowers on them, 00:06:36.104 --> 00:06:39.399 this was used to make tea. 00:06:39.982 --> 00:06:45.863 When my parents were still alive, they’d tell me where tea would come from. 00:06:48.699 --> 00:06:52.620 I watched how to make broth from bigger animals. 00:06:52.620 --> 00:07:02.505 The bones were broken into smaller pieces, the fatty tissue was used, everything from it was used. 00:07:02.505 --> 00:07:09.303 A grease was made out of it and it tasted great, it was consumed. 00:07:10.430 --> 00:07:16.436 These days, I don’t really see it being made. 00:07:16.436 --> 00:07:25.862 There are some who do, like us, we continue making it because we were taught to do this, 00:07:26.320 --> 00:07:31.451 to degrease the bone and to cook with it. 00:07:35.455 --> 00:07:42.336 The bones are not to be thrown anywhere, like on the ground. 00:07:42.837 --> 00:07:45.631 So people made an outdoor storage place. 00:07:45.631 --> 00:07:49.427 I, too, was asked to make them many times. 00:07:49.427 --> 00:08:00.646 I would set the boughs in place and then dump bones on them. 00:08:01.898 --> 00:08:08.321 The boiled bones would be placed on the boughs until all contents dissolved. 00:08:08.321 --> 00:08:15.495 When soaked for a long time, it was like a milky texture and it was a very nutritious drink. 00:08:16.871 --> 00:08:24.670 All animals that were killed were greatly respected and everything from them was used. 00:08:24.670 --> 00:08:35.014 More so with making moose hide and bear hide. 00:08:35.014 --> 00:08:45.399 Once cleaned and dried, bear hide was used for bedding. 00:08:45.399 --> 00:08:52.740 Back then there weren’t beds around, so bear hide was used for it. 00:08:53.491 --> 00:09:04.001 When a rabbit was killed, its fur would be collected and it wasn’t thrown away. 00:09:05.253 --> 00:09:21.936 My late mom would cut its fur into longer strips and she’d rub it like so. 00:09:23.479 --> 00:09:29.193 She held a piece of bone while rubbing the fur and stretching it, 00:09:29.652 --> 00:09:34.448 she’d attach something on it and continue doing so. 00:09:34.907 --> 00:09:38.077 Its fur would then be stretched out and bent as it dried up. 00:09:38.077 --> 00:09:44.125 It wasn’t used until the fur softened by rubbing it because it would easily rip. 00:09:44.625 --> 00:09:52.800 She would then make a wooden frame like this and lace a rope around it, 00:09:53.384 --> 00:09:59.515 just like how it’s done with snowshoes she’d start weaving. 00:09:59.515 --> 00:10:01.976 Eventually the piece would become larger. 00:10:01.976 --> 00:10:05.605 I’ve seen childrens coats made from rabbit fur. 00:10:06.147 --> 00:10:13.529 My eldest son had a coat made from this, when he wore it, he’d look very good. 00:10:14.280 --> 00:10:18.534 They also made mittens, hats and scarves from it. 00:10:20.328 --> 00:10:23.789 We used to do this but not anymore, 00:10:23.789 --> 00:10:35.843 where a rabbit hip bone was used for predicting a hunt while the hunters were out hunting. 00:10:36.677 --> 00:10:42.141 They’d predict his kill. It was done a long time ago. 00:10:42.725 --> 00:10:45.519 When they would trace an animal trail, 00:10:45.519 --> 00:10:54.320 they’d sleep out there because it wasn’t before daytime when someone would come back. 00:10:54.779 --> 00:11:05.915 Once seeing an animal trail, they followed it so that they could kill it, because food was scarce. 00:11:06.499 --> 00:11:11.087 They had to get it soon when they followed it around. 00:11:11.087 --> 00:11:16.258 Eventually when it was too far, they had to sleep for the night 00:11:16.258 --> 00:11:20.721 and once morning came, they’d kill the animal 00:11:21.514 --> 00:11:28.270 and the people who were at the camp would be happy that food was brought over. 00:11:29.522 --> 00:11:34.694 For winter, homes were well insulated. 00:11:35.027 --> 00:11:38.406 It would be built using wood for the walls and roof. 00:11:40.574 --> 00:11:47.540 There would only be a small opening to let in some light which would be covered using canvas 00:11:47.540 --> 00:11:54.839 because back then, there wasn’t as much plastic. 00:11:56.424 --> 00:12:04.682 Peat moss was used for insulation and it was placed all over the roof 00:12:04.682 --> 00:12:10.771 to fill in all the small gaps surrounding the walls. 00:12:10.771 --> 00:12:14.775 It’s said this type of moss was good for insulation and not other types. 00:12:15.276 --> 00:12:21.866 It was used throughout the home and would be a warm house. 00:12:22.116 --> 00:12:30.666 I recall seeing our home built like that, it was easily accessible to go in and out. 00:12:31.208 --> 00:12:36.005 It wasn’t necessary to make a fire during nighttime because it wasn’t cold 00:12:36.005 --> 00:12:42.219 as the small opening at the rood would be closed. 00:12:42.344 --> 00:12:46.557 I also saw a dome dwelling, 00:12:46.932 --> 00:12:50.728 small balsam trees were bent and tied like so. 00:12:50.728 --> 00:13:04.325 Other small ones were tied together horizontally so the dwelling wouldn’t move. 00:13:05.159 --> 00:13:08.913 The roof had a nice curve. 00:13:09.413 --> 00:13:16.462 This dwelling was quite warm, the ground around would be dug up for the walls, 00:13:16.462 --> 00:13:23.469 moss would be placed on the surrounding walls with some small trees leaning against it. 00:13:23.469 --> 00:13:32.686 I saw this dwelling and it was very good, one time we used it for winter. 00:13:34.021 --> 00:13:42.112 There’s also a dwelling that had four upright poles tied horizontally across the top. 00:13:43.072 --> 00:13:57.461 The poles were made from tamarack and placed upright, making a curve around with boughs around it. 00:13:57.461 --> 00:14:01.882 This dwelling would also be warm to live in. 00:14:03.801 --> 00:14:17.606 I have also seen a teepee and long teepee, the long teepee had entrances on both ends. 00:14:18.274 --> 00:14:23.863 It housed many people, it didn’t just house one family but four. 00:14:23.863 --> 00:14:30.828 There was enough space for us and there would be families sleeping on both sides. 00:14:32.162 --> 00:14:39.962 I’ve seen moose and caribou bone tools used for skinning. 00:14:39.962 --> 00:14:50.973 I’ve seen a scraper for moose hide that’s used like this. 00:14:50.973 --> 00:14:57.563 I’ve also seen tools made from beaver bone, the one used for scraping off flesh from hide. 00:14:57.938 --> 00:15:01.191 I saw my dad make one. 00:15:02.067 --> 00:15:14.204 A long time ago when we first fixed a moose hide, we didn’t trim off its fur, we scraped it off. 00:15:14.204 --> 00:15:26.258 We first scraped off the flesh then worked on its fur. 00:15:27.176 --> 00:15:30.638 We didn’t have to trim off its fur. 00:15:31.305 --> 00:15:43.233 A netting needle was made from moose bone and was used for weaving snowshoes. 00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:55.955 From the same animal, its hide would be used for weaving the front part of the snowshoe. 00:15:55.955 --> 00:15:59.249 Nothing else would be used for the weaving. 00:15:59.249 --> 00:16:09.051 Right now though, I see more like a flat string being used. 00:16:09.051 --> 00:16:17.393 It’s said that weaving moose hide for snowshoes stretch out more 00:16:17.393 --> 00:16:20.396 and it’s used on the part you step on. 00:16:22.064 --> 00:16:29.571 Tanned moose hide would be used to make footwear and mittens. 00:16:31.031 --> 00:16:34.576 Every part of the animal was used. 00:16:34.702 --> 00:16:39.206 For this part of a beaver bone, something is attached over here. 00:16:39.206 --> 00:16:44.712 It’s carved to straighten over here. 00:16:45.212 --> 00:16:53.762 You're able to grab hold of it quite well when fleshing the hide. 00:16:55.639 --> 00:16:58.976 It really works when you scrape off fat. 00:16:59.518 --> 00:17:03.605 A spoon would be made from his beaver hip bone. 00:17:03.605 --> 00:17:13.532 This here would be carved out and made into a spoon. 00:17:13.532 --> 00:17:19.830 He’d use it as a spoon for eating. 00:17:23.959 --> 00:17:32.009 If these items that were used a long time ago could be shown, they could still be made today. 00:17:34.094 --> 00:17:39.099 This here is a pin toy, 00:17:40.184 --> 00:17:43.771 this here is also from a bone. 00:17:43.771 --> 00:17:46.148 It must be bear or moose bone. 00:17:47.107 --> 00:18:03.123 These here are caribou bones that are from its toes (dewclaws). 00:18:03.999 --> 00:18:07.961 All of these come from its toes, they look like this. 00:18:08.962 --> 00:18:14.259 It’s then picked around over here. 00:18:15.636 --> 00:18:21.350 That’s why it looks like this. 00:18:21.350 --> 00:18:32.361 The caribou tail was cut off to make it part of the toy. 00:18:32.361 --> 00:18:34.571 You try to aim at it, like so. 00:18:34.613 --> 00:18:36.448 What is it called? 00:18:36.448 --> 00:18:42.037 It’s called a pin game and it’s a toy. 00:18:42.412 --> 00:18:45.874 It’s a point system and is based on how much you make. 00:18:48.168 --> 00:18:53.423 If you pin this part here, you're the winner. 00:18:56.301 --> 00:19:03.058 A long time ago elders were creative in what they were doing. 00:19:03.475 --> 00:19:11.024 For a long time, I’ve seen how bones were. 00:19:11.024 --> 00:19:24.329 I've seen the skulls of every animal, the bear, the beaver being hung to a stick shaped like this. 00:19:24.329 --> 00:19:31.795 The bones and skulls would be tied together then be hung over the stick. Every bone was kept. 00:19:32.588 --> 00:19:35.549 A skull wouldn’t be thrown just like that. 00:19:36.133 --> 00:19:38.635 This is done to not disrespect the kill. 00:19:38.635 --> 00:19:46.977 For a long time, this was done out of respect for the animal as it provided food to sustain them. 00:19:48.061 --> 00:19:54.151 A long time ago, I saw the process of hanging bones on a tree. 00:19:54.151 --> 00:20:02.910 The beaks of waterfowl would also be cut off and tied together then hung on the tree. 00:20:03.869 --> 00:20:15.005 Animal bones were even hung on burial sites and it showed how important it was for the hunters. 00:20:15.714 --> 00:20:21.887 They didn’t throw bones away just like that, they boiled to degrease them. 00:20:21.887 --> 00:20:32.564 Inside here are fatty tissues, it would be taken out and eaten. 00:20:33.357 --> 00:20:41.782 It was the same for moose hooves, they were eaten too, we ate it too. 00:20:42.824 --> 00:20:58.006 The hooves were prepared by heating them over the fire then hitting them to crack open. 00:20:58.006 --> 00:21:04.179 It’s still good and fleshy inside. I’ve seen it prepared like that. 00:21:06.556 --> 00:21:18.360 I also saw a sled being made using its hind legs, the fur on it would be cut off and it was very good. 00:21:19.236 --> 00:21:30.622 Many of the hind legs were tied together in rows holding it in place. 00:21:32.416 --> 00:21:36.420 When someone would go check on their trap, they would take the sled with them. 00:21:36.420 --> 00:21:38.922 He’d wrap it up and carry it on their back. 00:21:38.922 --> 00:21:42.342 When killing a beaver, he’d place it on the sled. 00:21:44.886 --> 00:21:52.269 When a man would pull in something, they made him a ceremonial cord (string). 00:21:53.228 --> 00:22:01.737 He would use it for pulling otters. They made it for him by pulling in something. 00:22:01.737 --> 00:22:03.655 I’ve seen that done. 00:22:03.655 --> 00:22:09.619 They decorated the ceremonial cord (string) with stuff hanging on it. 00:22:09.619 --> 00:22:15.417 He would pull with it when he killed a beaver or an otter. 00:22:15.625 --> 00:22:30.390 The youth should learn how to hunt and do everything that was done in the past when there was a kill. 00:22:31.975 --> 00:22:39.733 The youth can ask someone who still hunts 00:22:40.609 --> 00:22:47.532 how to set up a beaver trap and everything made from the kill. 00:22:48.658 --> 00:22:53.497 Also learn how to get the beaver out of the water. 00:22:54.081 --> 00:22:56.750 It really needed to be pulled in where the ground is evenly leveled. 00:22:56.750 --> 00:22:59.961 I’ve seen it being done like this when my dad checked on his traps. 00:22:59.961 --> 00:23:07.636 When I gave up on school, I went with my dad to check up on his traps and I would do like him. 00:23:07.636 --> 00:23:12.432 Once me and my husband were married, he did the same thing, 00:23:12.432 --> 00:23:17.354 he’d dry up the beaver going back and forth like so. 00:23:17.354 --> 00:23:20.857 Soon, the beaver was dry 00:23:20.857 --> 00:23:30.409 and he’d attach a stick that he carved that looked like this, he attached it on its nose. 00:23:30.784 --> 00:23:37.582 He’d do this whenever there wasn’t anything to use to drag it with. 00:23:37.582 --> 00:23:39.584 I saw it done like this. 00:23:39.584 --> 00:23:49.261 With the otter, because it was tough, it would be poked on the chin and tied from there to be pulled. 00:23:51.763 --> 00:23:57.894 When I think about how hunting was done and thinking about the boys, 00:23:57.894 --> 00:24:04.651 they could be taught about this when they’re in the bush. 00:24:04.651 --> 00:24:11.116 They would be taught and shown how it was done a long time ago. 00:24:11.867 --> 00:24:18.707 A person always walked using snowshoes to follow the animal. 00:24:19.374 --> 00:24:21.293 A skidoo wasn’t used. 00:24:21.543 --> 00:24:30.760 Today many of the youth are into playing all sorts of games and they could do this too, 00:24:30.760 --> 00:24:33.430 they could learn how to hunt. 00:24:33.805 --> 00:24:37.142 If children are brought to the bush for a year, 00:24:37.142 --> 00:24:40.687 they could be taught about everything there is to learn from this.