The Yearly Cycle of the Mistassini Indians

Résumé

Describes the seasonal activities and movements of Indians around Lake Mistassini, Quebec (51 N, 73 30 W), on the basis of 13 months' field work in 1953-54. Their fur-trapping, hunting and fishing economy and the climatic conditions necessitate periodic changes in occupation and habitation. Eight such periods are distinguished: summer, fall travel, fall hunt, winter camp construction, early winter trapping, late winter hunt, spring trapping, and spring travel. These periods, implicit (though not explicit) in Mistassini discussion of their activities, conform only in part to the six climatic seasons recognized by the Indians.