An Ancient Bond with the Land

Maritime Peoples

A Time of Plenty

An intimate knowledge of the seasonal availability of resources was key to survival in the Atlantic region. Summer was the time of plenty. People lived in large groups near the seacoast, at estuaries, or along rivers, where they fished and collected freshwater resources and marine resources.

In the warmer seasons, people travelled by river to harvest inland resources, and to visit other communities. Long-distance travel by canoe encouraged trade and supported good intertribal relations.