MALISET INDIANS

THE INDIANS OCCUPIED MUCH OF WHAT IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE EASTERN -BORDER LINE OF THE U.S. AND CANADA. AFTER 1732 THEY OBTAINED RIGHTS TO CROSS BETWEEN CANADA AND THE U.S. AS THEIR VILLAGES WERE IN BOTH COUNTRIES. THE HOULTEN BAND HAS MALISEET INDIANS AND IS COMPRISED OF 800 INDIANS. THEY HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN HUNTERS AND GATHERERS. THEY ARE GREAT FISHERMEN AND LIVE ALONG THE ST. JOHN RIVER BASIN AND CATCH BROWN AND BROOK TROUT. THEY HAVE A FARM AND COMMERCIAL LAND HOLDINGS. THEY SPEAK AN ALGONQUIN LANGUAGE. IT IS SPOKEN BY 1500 PEOPLE TODAY. HOWEVER, THEIR LANGUAGE IS IN DANGER AS THE CHILDREN DO NOT SPEAK IT. IT IS VERY SONG LIKE AND HAS COMPLEX VERBS. THESE INDIANS BELONG TO THE EASTERN WABANAKI ALLIANCE, A LOOSE CONFEDERATION. THE MALISEET AND PASSAMAQUODDY PEOPLE WERE CLOSELY RELATED NEIGHBORS. THEY CONSIDER THEMSELVES POLITICALLY INDEPENDENT. AS WITH MANY TRIBES, THEIR POPULATIONS WERE DECIMATED BY EUROPEAN DISEASES OF SMALLPOX, MEASLES, AND SYPHILIS.

THEY MADE BEAUTIFUL BIRCH BARK BASKETS, PAINTED CERAMIC VESSELS, PORCUPINE QUILL MOCCASINS, AND WERE FAMOUS FOR THEIR BEAD WORK. THEY LIVED IN SMALL ROUND BUILDINGS CALLED WIGWAMS. THEY LIVE ON RESERVATIONS THAT ARE LEGALLY UNDER THEIR CONTROL. EACH COMMUNITY IS CALLED A TRIBE. IN CANADA THEY CALL THEMSELVES FIRST NATIONS. EACH TRIBE HAS IT'S OWN GOVERNMENT. THEIR LEADER IS CALLED SAKOM OR A GOVERNOR .

THE WOMEN WORE LONG DRESSES WITH REMOVABLE SLEEVES. THE MEN WORE BREECH CLOTHS AND MOCCASINS. DURING COLONIAL TIMES THEY ADAPTED TO EUROPEAN CLOTHES. THEY HAD NO WAR BONNETS. THEY MADE BEADED CAPS OR HATS. THEY DID NOT USE TATTOOS. THEY ARE WELL KNOWN FOR THEIR BIRCH BARK CANOES WHICH THEY USED TO MAKE BY HAND. THEY USED DOGS FOR PACK ANIMALS TO TRAVEL OVER LAND. THEY ALSO USED SLEDS AND SNOWSHOES IN THE WINTER.

FISH WAS MOST IMPORTANT TO THEIR DIET AND THEY SPEARED THEM WITH FLINT SPEARS! THE MEN HUNTED BIG GAME SUCH AS MOOSE AND DEER. WOMEN PLANTED AND HARVESTED CORN AND GATHERED FRUIT. THEY MADE WAMPUM BUT OF WHITE AND PURPLE SHELL BEADS AND THESE WERE IMPORTANT AS AN ART MATERIAL. THEY MADE DESIGNS ON WAMPUM BELTS THAT TOLD A STORY.

THESE FIVE TRIBES - MALISET, MICMACS, PASSAMAQUODDIES, ABBEAKIS, AND PENOBSCOTS FORMED AN ALLIANCE CALLED WABANAKI CONFEDERACY. THEY STILL FACE PROBLEMS TODAY. THEY SIGNED TREATIES WITH THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT WHICH GAVE THEM OWNERSHIP OF THEIR GOVERNMENT LANDS AND GAVE THEM SPECIAL FISHING, HUNTING, AND LOGGING RIGHTS. THIS MADE SOME ANGLOS VERY ANGRY AND THEY BURNED ONE OF THEIR SACRED SITES. THEIR STILL IS TENSION BETWEEN THESE FOLKS. THEIR RELIGION IS VERY COMPLEX.

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