The document provides an overview of the theories surrounding the first peoples arriving in North America. It is widely accepted that during the last ice age, when sea levels were lower, a land bridge connected Asia and North America, allowing people to cross over on foot. As the glaciers melted, the land bridge was submerged again. Archaeological evidence such as tools and traditions have been found that can be traced back to these earliest inhabitants. The document then provides details on the cultures and ways of life of various indigenous groups across North America, including the Iroquoians, Plains peoples, Northwest Coast peoples, and Subarctic peoples.

1. First Peoples Power Point Presentation

2. The Barren land bridge theory The Barren land bridge is probably the most widely excepted theory for the fist natives being able too come too north America. It is thought people from the old world or what we now know as Europe passed over a land bridge that extended between Europe and Alaska. This was back when glaciers where on north America and various other parts of the world in the northern and southern parts of the world. The glaciers where the most important part too this theory being valid. The theory states that when the glaciers where still there the sea level was lower than it is now because it was trapped in snow. This opened up a bridge as the sea level went down. Later the glaciers melted and the process reversed not allowing the people even if they wanted too back too the Old world because the barren land bridge was now covered by water. These people became the first nations.

4. Terminology (links show images) Geology : The scientific study of the origin, history, and structure of the earth. Dispersal : The act or process of spread out or the condition of being disperse Culture : The way a group of people live Maize : Tall annual cereal grass bearing kernels on large ears Culture area : An area where people share many features of the same culture Coniferous : Trees that bear cone Democracy : Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representative Wampum : Used among the Iroquoians both as money and as a record of treaties Mohawk : A tribe in the Iroquois Confederacy Nootka : An Aboriginal tribe on the west coast. Potlatch : A feast at which the host gave away many gifts Totem poles : Built by west coast tribes to honor their family Blackfoot : The strongest Aboriginal nation on the Plains Buffalo : The most important source of food on the plains HBC : Hudson Bay Company Travois : Made of two crossed poles pulled behind a horse for carrying loads Sun Dance : A dance where the Plains Indian sought a vision to guide them for the rest of their lives Sub arctic : A huge area of North America which spreads from Alaska in the west to the Maritimes in the East Canoe : They were used by the First Nations and later by the explorers and fur traders for traveling throughout Canada Squash : A field crop grown by the Huron First Nation Igloo : The Inuit word for snow house