Life before Settlement
The first settlement in the valley of the Sainte Croix goes back to approximately 11,000 years ago. Moving in small groups, these hunter-gatherers were probably the descendants of the first humans who came from northern Russia to Canada, crossing the still frozen Bering Strait around 15,000 to 20,000 years ago. Thus fact they are undoubtedly the ancestors of the Amerindians. Based on archaeological excavation conducted on the Sainte Croix Island, the first nation people settled in that region 4,000 years ago. They walked along the estuary and in the bay area; they even visited the bay islands of Passamaquoddy. Three Amerindians tribes mainly lived along the Acadian coastlines: the Micmacs, the Maliseets and the Abenaki. The Amerindians were hunters in winter, hunting mainly moose, bear, caribou, beaver, and otter. In the summertime, they fished salmon and molluscs. Dancing, singing and storytelling were the most popular forms of entertainment.. The most cherished values were respect of nature and animals, helping one another and sharing.
A study by Statistic Canada on French settlements in America found, in relations 1611, vol. 1, page 15, an estimation of the primitive population living in the Acadian territories and in New England, done by Jesuits which reads the following:
All the Souriquois: 3,000 to 3,500
The Eteminquois to Pentagoet: 2,500
From Pentegoet to Kinibequi & Chouacoet: 3,000
The Montagnais (Algic tribes living in the mountains
Of New England): 1,000
Total: 10,000
Now we'll explain the origin of each of the tribes as well as their relation with the first Europeans.
Native people:
- Micmacs
- Maliseet
- Abenaki
Explorers:
- Vikings
- Christopher Columbus
- Amerigo Vespucci
- John Cabot
- Giovanni da Verrazano
- Jacques Cartier
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