Canadian Shield
Here is another excellent website to learn more about the Canadian Shield!!!
Major Bodies of Water |
LandformsEven though the Canadian Shield is the largest region in Canada it contains only 10% of Canada's population. This "storehouse" is rich with natural resources.
The Canadian shield has vast exposed areas of ancient rock. With much volcanic activity this area used to be mountainous, but over time glaciers, water, and wind wore much of the mountains away. Instead the region is made up of high, flat land called plateaus which are surrounded by mountains or cliffs. Unfortunately, this region has only a very thin layer of soil or are rock which creates many difficulties. Road construction and laying water/sewage pipes are a few of the difficult tasks they face. |
Due to the large craters and gouges left by glaciers, water has been trapped above the rock base. Millions of lakes, ponds, and streams show the direction the glacier moved when looking high in the sky. The plethora of water passages offered fur traders easy access to transport their goods. The water ways also allowed for an easy source of power, hydroelectricity. Both the Hudson Bay and James Bay are the two largest bodies of water that freeze over. Many of the cities in this region began as fur trading posts. Due to it being difficult to build roads, some of the cities only receive good by air or rail.
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TourismNot only is this area beautiful, but it allows for many outdoor activities throughout the year.
VegetationDue to the climate and lack of soil, the region has a very short growing season. The Laurentian zone does allow for a little long season which allows the growth of blueberries and cranberries. Wild rice is also grown in parts of this region.
The boreal forest has been used my First Nations people for hundreds of years to hunt and build canoes, snowshoes, and homes. Even today it provides many jobs. |
ClimateThe climate in this region varied greatly due to its vastness. Due to the size of the region is it broken in to 3 climate zones: Arctic, Boreal, and Laurentian.
The Arctic zone is cold and dry all year like you might assume. It has short summers and long dark winters due to its location being so far north. The Boreal zone as long, cold winters with short, warm summers. Northern areas in this zone receive less precipitation than in the southern areas. Why might that be? Finally the Laurentian zone receives large amounts of precipitation. The climate is simular to Alberta's with cold, snowy winters, warm/hot summers, and mild spring and fall temperatures. |
Natural Resources
Copper and silica were first mined by the Kitlinermuit and Anishinabe to make tools, weapons, and ornaments.
Many of the communities in this region depend on mining to make a living. Many scientists believe that a meteor which hit the earth a few billion years ago, is the reason for some of the copper and nickel in the region. Other areas have opened diamond mines in the Northwest Territories and parts of Nunavut.
Many of the communities in this region depend on mining to make a living. Many scientists believe that a meteor which hit the earth a few billion years ago, is the reason for some of the copper and nickel in the region. Other areas have opened diamond mines in the Northwest Territories and parts of Nunavut.
Beliefs and Healing
While the Dene and Cree peoples carried few physical possessions with them during their annual travels, they maintained rich cultural and spiritual lives. Both groups believed in the close relationship between humans and nature, and that all parts of the natural world around them were living and feeling. The Chipewyan had a close relationship with the wolf, who like them preys on caribou. They imagined that they might be reincarnated in later lives as a human or wolf.
Traditional healing of sickness involved the role of medicine people or ‘shamans’. Shamans in sub-arctic communities were born with or gained spirit power and sometimes became important leaders. The Chipewyan, and other Dene people, believed that spirit power and knowledge could be gained from spirit-animal beings while dreaming, a practice called inkoze. This power was used to cure or aid others or to predict where the game might be.
L, N. (n.d.). The Values, Practices and Beliefs of sub-Arctic First Nations. Retrieved March 08, 2017, from http://www.inuitcontact.ca/index.php/vignettes_en/fn_values/
Traditional healing of sickness involved the role of medicine people or ‘shamans’. Shamans in sub-arctic communities were born with or gained spirit power and sometimes became important leaders. The Chipewyan, and other Dene people, believed that spirit power and knowledge could be gained from spirit-animal beings while dreaming, a practice called inkoze. This power was used to cure or aid others or to predict where the game might be.
L, N. (n.d.). The Values, Practices and Beliefs of sub-Arctic First Nations. Retrieved March 08, 2017, from http://www.inuitcontact.ca/index.php/vignettes_en/fn_values/