An Ancient Bond with the Land

Maritime Peoples

From time immemorial, Aboriginal peoples of Atlantic Canada based their way of life on the resources available each season from the land, rivers, lakes and sea. Although Aboriginal people today are less dependent on these resources, they still maintain a close relationship with the land and sea.

Figures holding fish spears are depicted in petroglyphs (rock carvings) from McGowan Lake, Nova Scotia. These figures symbolize the diverse traditional life ways surrounding the seasonal search for food and material resources in Atlantic Canada. Drawing: Susan Laurie-Bourque © Canadian Museum of Civilization