User:Candiesrgood/Sandbox I/MN Cree

1490–1495

 * The Plains Cree is a confederacy centered around the “Three Cities” of Sīphkwaskosiya (ᓰᐱᐦᑲᐧᐢᑯᓯᔭ; “Blue Grass”), Osāwahkesīs (ᐅᓵᐊᐧᐦᑫᓰᐢ; “Red Fox”) and Osāwekin (ᐅᓵᐁᐧᑭᐣ; “Yellow Cloth”). The total population is estimated to be 1-1.5 million, or about half of the total ethnic Cree population. While originating further east, the Plains Cree is culturally intertwined with other Plains Indians through their shared participation in the fur trade – of which the Plains Cree are a leader in. Other major exports asides from furs and hides, are apicultural products (mead, honey, wax), timber, and rapeseed oil. While the Three Cities – due to their status as the only extensively-urbanized area – serve as the confederacy’s center of trade and industry, the majority (~90%) of the population resides in rural areas, most in small settlements referred to as a “band”. Each typically have ~500 residents, most of whom are generally part of the same clan. A household (or “lodge”) often consists of multiple related couples (often sisters and their husbands and children). The Three Cities provide these bands protection and guaranteed access to trading networks, in-exchange for tribute (in grain, meat, furs, and hides) or occasionally, corvée. Similar to the majority of Native American societies, kinship is traced trough maternal lines, and thus, so is the passage of property and titles. Endogamy (or inter-marriage between clan members) is strictly prohibited, and could be punished with banishment. Bands, while generally self-sufficient, maintains relations with each other through trade as well as frequent intermarriage. Each band is headed by two elected officials who generally serve life-long terms, the “War Chieftain”, and the “Peace Chieftain” – both of whom are jointly-responsible for the enforcement of law and order, as well as fulfills a judicial role. While the Plains Cree are egalitarian, there is a noticeable division of labor between the sexes. Men participate in diplomatic and trading missions, as well as head hunting expeditions. Meanwhile, women – in addition to domestic duties – cultivate grain and legumes, process hides and furs, and produce other household goods. Both sexes generally learn archery and horseback warfare, with women utilizing those skills to ward off predators or intruders when their husbands are gone. The Plains Cree are headed by the “Supreme Council”, which functions as both the executive and the legislative body. It oversees both domestic and foreign affairs, and enforces a limited criminal code. The “Supreme Council” consists of numerous “High Chiefs” and one “Supreme Chief”, though the former holds an advisory role to the latter, who is viewed as the “first among equals”. Both positions are elected by the people, and serve ten-year terms. While the society is generally egalitarian, with no clearly-defined class structure, there is a noble class consisting of men participating in military service, and women as civil officials or clerics. It is not, however, hereditary, and the acquisition of this status is determined through examination by civil or military officials to determine whether he/she is fit for the role.

1495–1500

 * The Plains Cree Confederacy, led by Supreme Chief Asiniyeo (ᐊᓯᓃᐃᐤ, Asinîyew), undergoes reforms to centralize state power and consolidate territorial integrity. These reforms are supported by the Grand Council, due to the feared notion of Cree technological inferiority, and the pressure of being wedged between the southern Sioux Empire and the northern Thule Empire. A prefectural system is established, with each of the thirty new prefectures containing approximately ~50,000 inhabitants (equivalent to about a thousand villages). The prefect – who controls the regional garrison – serves as the representative of the Supreme Chief, and as such, his/her duties consist largely of enforcing local law and order, as well as protecting the Cree's territories from foreign incursions. Meanwhile, the Grand Council is relegated to a legislative body, though the High Chiefs retain substantial power and prestige. Meanwhile, five ministerial bodies are established to assist the Supreme Chief in administrative duties. All of these positions will be appointed by the Supreme Chief – however, with the discretion of the Grand Council. These are the Board of Domestic Affairs, which manage civil appointments and state ceremonies; the Board of Foreign Affairs, which is responsible for foreign trade and receiving foreign missions; the Board of Justice, which enforces the criminal code and serves as the highest court; the Board of Finance, which collects tribute and census data, as well as revenue from the sales tax; and finally, the Board of Public Works, which is responsible for overseeing government construction projects. Cree Constabulary, which is under the de jure control of the Supreme Chief, still functions as the de facto local government in the frontier territories, however. Meanwhile, the Three Cities (Sipicuascosia, Osawacesis, and Osawecin) are united under a single metropolitan perfect under the direct rule of the Supreme Chief and the Grand Council. It is named "Otoscuanic" (ᐅᑑᐢᑲᐧᓂᕁ, Otôskwanihk), a reference to the sharp bend made by the Bow and Elbow Rivers, as well as the reeds traditionally used for longbows. Despite these reforms, Plains Cree society remains largely-localized around dispersed clan-based village communities. Despite the Confederacy being rural and agrarian with the few industries – such as the production of textiles, leatherware, and alcohol – being concentrated in the Three Cities, it still maintains a relatively high degree of wealth due to its lucrative exports of sunflower oil, apicultural products (honey, mead, and wax), timber (including pulpwood), and most importantly, furs and hides from bison. With higher quotas placing increasing pressure on the villages for the extraction of tribute, many larger villages begin to establish enclosures to better monitor the bison herds, as well as workshops specializing in the processing of furs, hides (to leather), furs, and meat. Many of the villages also begin to intensively-cultivate the land to grow grain, legumes, and squash for food as well as fodder – causing a shift from a mixture of subsistence horticulture and pastoralism, to complex mixed agriculture.

1500–1505

 * Plains Cree Confederation: Due to increased pressure on the villages to fulfill tribute requirements, villages begin to organize annual or semi-annual "round-ups" of bison instead of organizing sporadic, small-scale hunting expeditions. Due to the scale of these activities, the entire village usually participates; with men locating and mustering the buffalo herds, while the women being responsible for the processing of hide, meat, and fat (as well as cleaning the furs). The surplus is used by the village to manufacture household goods, or traded to merchants for profit. Similarly, many villages start to grow grain not only for subsistence but to provide fodder to the bison herds; while the men conduct periodic checkups to tend to injured livestock and assist in births. The transition to mixed agriculture, from subsistence-level horticulture/pastoralism, continues. Meanwhile, in the Three Cities, more workshops are built due to a sudden surge of raw materials allowing the heightened production of luxury garments, leatherware (footwear, bags, fashion accessories), and tallow-based products such as fuel, cooking oil and to a lesser extent, soaps and ointments. These manufactures are both consumed by the urban elite, and also exported to foreign markets. Minor exports are paper, timber, and apicultural products. Supreme Chief Asinīyeo begins a short tour of the Turtle Island, with the intent of reviewing foreign institutions in hopes of replicating them domestically, as well as gaining insight into the production of gunpowder weapons such as cannons and the arquebus – weapons which have been acquired through trade, yet continue to mystify the Cree. With the discretion of the Grand Council, he designates his mother as the provisional Supreme Chief. He visits the Sioux, Cahokia, and reaches as far east as the Delaware and Chesapeake before returning. Upon returning, he implements four major reforms. He vastly-expands the criminal code (though there is still no civil code), with the maximum punishment being banishment from Cree lands. He codifies laws on the ownership of property and inheritance. Due to the matrilineal nature of Cree society, only females could inherit unless explicitly-stated in a written will (which is rare, given the vast majority of the villages being almost entirely illiterate). While everyone is granted the right to own property, it has little effect on village relations, as many villagers decide to cultivate their crops as a joint-enterprise with their kinsmen – dividing the produce equally between the participating households. Finally, Supreme Chief Asinīyeo mandates the adoption of last names to help enforce the collection of tribute and census data. All individuals will have two names in addition to their personal name – a matronymic name, and a clan name (based on their founder or the surrounding place). Due to many clans tracing their lineage to the same mythical figures, they are distinguished by an additional toponymic name.

1505–1510

 * Plains Cree Confederacy: Supreme Chief Asinīyeo establishes the first arsenal, as well as constructs a network of state-owned foundries within the Three Cities. All of these sites are placed under the control of the Board of Finance. In addition to bows, arrows, and melee weapons, the former produces a small number of gunpowder weapons – such as small cannons and arquebuses. However, the High Chiefs still hold the bow in higher regard, due to its higher accuracy and firing rate, as well as its suitability for horseback warfare. The Supreme Chief also pioneers the introduction of the "open range system", with each village having a designated range distinct from farmed or residential land, where the bison are allowed to graze with minimal interference. The villagers, however, are allowed to visit the herds for period checkups/delivering of fodder, and organizing small-scale hunting expeditions. However, large-scale round-ups would only occur on an annual or semi-annual basis. While a portion of this would be given to the Three Cities per tribute obligations, the surplus could be processed and turned into household goods or manufactures for trade.

The country continues to grow wealthy off the export of furs, leatherware, tallow-based products, and cured meat. The transition to mixed agriculture from subsistence-level horticulture/pastoralism continues, triggering a population boom. Iron plows begin to be used in increasing numbers, as are threshing machines, hand-driven rotary mills, and horse mills.

Future (disorganized)

 * 1505–1510
 * establishment of the first foundry (under the Board of Finance and Cree Constabulary)
 * produces small cannons for defense + arquebus (for auxiliaries)
 * limited; bow still held as superior due to higher accuracy + firing rate

introduction of "open range system" – each village would have jurisdiction over a designated range (distinct residential or cultivated land) within village borders, with the bison being allowed to openly-graze
 * however, the villagers may visit the bison herds to deliver fodder / tend to (or if severe, cull) wounded individuals
 * throughout the year, small-scale round-ups are permitted for subsistence
 * twice a year, there would be a large-scale round-up in which all village men (and sometimes women and adolescents) participate in
 * there would be a quota for tribute, while the surplus could be processed into furs, leather, or tallow for trade or personal use


 * introduction of intensive agriculture > population boom
 * introduction of plow (using manpower) + water-powered mills to process grains
 * continued shift to mixed agriculture (from subsistence-level horticulture/pastoralism)


 * 1510–1515
 * Plains Cree Confederation: The Supreme Chief orders the establishment of the Board of Rites. He also commissions the establishment of a formal educational system and the standardization of the educational curriculum. In addition, the new government body now holds the responsibility of performing state ceremonies, performing state rituals/sacrifices, and also handling registries for religious cults.


 * education (standardized)
 * under new Board of Rites


 * medicine (handled by registered, licensed shamans)


 * bath culture
 * sauna replaced by baths in the Three Cities


 * infrastructure > move to stone
 * then, only defenses + religious buildings were stone; rest were timber

* military expansion
 * 1515–1520
 * military reorganization under new Supreme Chief

* problem of intercropping is that it does not make effective use of space * three-cycle crop rotation adopted after being observed from foreign nations * maize * beans (wooden poles as treillage) – fix nitrogen improving soil fertility * a fallow field (or w/ clover) – help to replenish soil quality; or w/ clover, further fixes nitrogen + provides fodder * squashes grown in vegetables gardens rather than in the fields
 * shift to agriculture (farms) from horticulture (gardens)

* to personal plots of land + joint-enterprise * each household begins to own livestock separately * common land pen + barn continues
 * from gardens
 * common ownership of livestock abolished

* limited to the Three Cities * barter trade still in rural areas
 * establishment of minted coinage (copper); previously Cahokian or Sioux coinage were used

Places

 * Otōscuanic (Otôskwanihk) – RL Calgary
 * Sīpiscuascosia (Sîpihkwaskosiya, “Blue Grass”)
 * Osāwacesis (Osâwahkesîs, “Red Fox”)
 * Osāwecin (Osâwekin, “Yellow Cloth”)

Native American influences

 * Family
 * kinship is traced through the maternal line (matrilineality)
 * inheritance is therefore, also matrilineal
 * household consists of multiple couples – often related sisters w/ their husbands and children
 * clan relations are heavily emphasized


 * Village
 * each settlement typically has 500 residents, generally part of the same clan
 * endogamy (unions between clan members) is strictly prohibited
 * each village maintains relations w/ each other through intermarriage (as well as trade)


 * Village Council
 * headed by two elected officials
 * "Chieftain of Peace" – enforces the observation of laws + wields judicial role
 * "Chieftain of War" – lesser role; presides over issues of defense
 * all adults partake in decision-making
 * advice from shamans are especially highly-regarded


 * Division of labor (between the sexes)
 * Men
 * conduct trade w/ neighboring villages
 * conduct hunting expeditions
 * deliver tribute to the capital


 * Women
 * tend to the farmland (staples of grain, legumes, squash) and gardens
 * clean furs, process hides and fat (into leather and tallow, respectively)
 * produce household goods


 * Both generally learn archery, and horseback warfare – skills needed in the plains

Politics

 * Generally egalitarian; no clearly defined class structure
 * No civil law; limited criminal law


 * Nobility
 * not hereditary; acquired via a charter (being approved by an Elder)
 * men = military servicemen; gendarmerie-esque force during peace-time
 * women = civil officials (state bureaucrats, urban social workers); lesser numerically and more important


 * “Three Cities”
 * three foremost + most populous settlements, under a personal union
 * centers of trade + industry
 * “Three Cities” provide the villages protection + access to trading networks, in exchange for tribute (furs + hides, grain + other foodstuffs, meat)


 * Government bodies
 * Grand Council – functions as the executive + legislative body
 * oversees domestic + foreign affairs, enforces the limited criminal code
 * Supreme Chief - regarded as “first among equals”
 * High Chief – counterbalances the power of the Supreme Chief + give advise to him/her


 * Cree Constabulary – de jure under control of the Supreme Chief, consists of military nobility


 * "Ministries"
 * Board of Domestic Affairs – manages civil and military appointments + responsible for state ceremonies
 * Board of Foreign Affairs – responsible for diplomacy/foreign trade, receives foreign missions
 * Board of Justice – enforces criminal + civil law, serves as highest court
 * Board of Finance – collects annual tribute and census data, sales tax
 * Board of Public Works – responsible for government construction projects

Economics

 * Sheep*
 * dairy products
 * wool – basis of clothing


 * Bison products
 * furs > garments
 * hide > leather
 * fat > tallow
 * milk > cheeses


 * Agriculture
 * subsistence
 * maize
 * legumes (either tepary or common beans)
 * winter squash
 * commercial
 * timber and pulpwood
 * apiculture (honey, wax, mead)
 * sunflower cultivation


 * Manufactures
 * leather > leatherworks (footwear, bags) and parchment
 * tallow > oil (cooking, fuel, lubricant), candles, soaps + bases for ointment
 * pulpwood > paper
 * sunflowers > oil (cooking + lubricant)


 * Main industries / export products
 * furs > garments
 * hides/leather > leatherworks
 * tallow
 * paper (?)
 * cheese (?)

Lifestye

 * Pre-transition
 * horticulture, supplemented w/ gathering of wild fruits and nuts
 * intercropping of maize, beans and squash


 * hunting of bison for:
 * meat (smoked and cured)
 * furs (for clothing)
 * hide (leather)
 * tallow (fuel, cooking oil, soaps/ointment)


 * sheep kept in pens
 * during the day, shepherds would herd them outside of pens to graze
 * sheep would be a source of wool and dairy products


 * Post-transition
 * agriculture, three-field crop rotation
 * maize – principle grain
 * beans – source of protein + fixes nitrogen (restores soil fertility)
 * clover – fodder crop + fixes nitrogen (restores soil fertility)


 * bison is kept in a semi-feral state
 * periodic checkups (tend to injured individuals, assist in births)
 * semi-annual or annual round-up's of bison for:
 * meat (smoked and cured)
 * furs (for clothing)
 * hide (leather)
 * tallow (fuel, cooking oil, soaps/ointment)


 * sheep are kept in sheep barns, and limited to enclosures
 * fed excess grain as fodder
 * sheep would be bred for wool and dairy products rather than meat


 * General
 * clothing
 * for commoners; wool (dresses, tunics, robes/cloaks) and leather (footwear, trousers, fashion accessories), usage of fur limited to trims
 * for elite; wool and/or imported cotton cloth as undergarments, fur robes