Download Theories of First Peoples` Origins

Archaeological and Aboriginal perspectives
Textbook: Pages 18-20
Theories of First Peoples’ Origins
 There are two views regarding the origins of First
Peoples in North America
 Archaeological perspective:
 First Peoples arrived from somewhere else
 Aboriginal perspective:
 First Peoples were always there
Archaelogical Perspective
 The archaeological perspective consists of 3
different theories as to how the First Peoples came
to North America
 Land Route
 Pacific Route
 Atlantic Route
The Land Route Theory
 This theory states that during
the last Ice Age, seawaters were
so low that a land bridge
spanned the 90km distance
between Alaska and Siberia.
This vast, grassy plain was
called Beringia. The first
peoples came across this land
bridge chasing big game
animals such as bison, caribou
and mammoths.
The Pacific Route Theory
 This theory states that the first peoples crossed
the Pacific Ocean by watercraft from Polynesia
and Australia. Fossil evidence of sea and land
mammals suggests that there were enough natural
resources at that time for coastal people to
survive.
The Atlantic Route Theory
 This theory states that people
came from Southern Europe
by navigating small
watercraft, or walking on the
borders of glaciers. Genetic
markers have shown
similarities in DNA between
Aboriginals and Europeans –
similarities not found
between Aboriginals and
Asians.
First Nations’ Theory
 First Nations’ beliefs, supported by legends and oral
histories, state that these people were always here.
These creation stories are told differently, according
to different aboriginal traditions, but they share the
same idea: that this is aboriginals’ homeland.
Summary about First Peoples’ Origins
 Two perspectives:
Archaeological vs. Aboriginal
 Archaeological
 Land Route
 Pacific Route
 Atlantic Route
 Aboriginal
 Always here; creation stories