article

On the territorial distribution of the Western Woods Cree

Papers of the ... Algonquian Conference • 7 • Published In 1976 • Pages: 414-435

By: Smith, James G. E..

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to assemble the data pertaining to the very late pre- and proto-historic distribution of the Western Woods Cree, and to indicate that their occupation of western Manitoba, Saskatchewan and possibly Alberta belongs to the pre-contact period . Smith examines the historical documentation for the various factors leading to the movement of the Swampy Cree to the southwest, but these alone cannot ...'be responsible for the population of all western regions within such a remarkably brief period. It is suggested that it was the term 'Cree' (and its variants) that spread west and was applied to Cree groups known by other names, or unknown until the relatively late exploration of the Canadian Northwest, although it is not denied that boundaries fluctuated with temporary technological superiority, or conversely, as epidemic disease caused territoral contractions' (P. 415).

HRAF PubDate

2000

Region

North America

Sub Region

Arctic and Subarctic

Document Type

article

Evaluation

Creator Type

Ethnologist

Document Rating

4: Excellent Secondary Data

Analyst

John Beierle; 2006

Field Date

no date

Coverage Date

1650-1750

Coverage Place

western Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada

Notes

James G. E. Smith

Includes bibliographical references (p. 432-435)

LCCN

91640225

LCSH

Cree Indians