Seasonal Subsistence of the Anishinaabe

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A lifestyle based on traditional ecological knowledge

The Métis and Ojibwe people followed a seasonal subsistence cycle that worked with the traditional ecological knowledge of the landscape, animals, plants, and weather.  Each season, different resources were hunted, fished, gathered, and trapped to ensure the survival of the Anishinaabe people from year to year and generation to generation. Below is a breakdown of typical activities each season.

SPRING
Hunting activities 
Hunting ducks, geese swans, prairie chickens, pheasants, partridges, moose, deer, elk, bears, and small game.
 
Fishing activities 
Catching spawning fish such as pike, walleye, sturgeon with weirs, nets, spears, and traps. 

Trapping activities
 Snaring mink, otters, beavers, muskrats, rabbits, coyotes, and wolves. 
 
Gathering & Plants
Collecting birch bark for canoes and house hold items. Tapping birch and maple trees. Seeding wheat, corn, and other garden crops.

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SUMMER
 Hunting activities
Hunting bison, wolves, coyotes, bears, prairie chickens, rabbits, moose, deer, elk, and small game.

Fishing activities
Using nets to catch various fish when needed

Trapping activities
Trapping bears

Gathering & Plants
Gathering certain roots, blueberries, saskatoon berries, raspberries, currants, gooseberries and chokecherries.

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FALL
Hunting activities
Hunting bison, moose, deer, elk, bears, prairie chickens, and migratory ducks, geese, and swans.

Fishing activities
Spearing and netting various fish for smoking and preservation.

Trapping activities
Trapping bears, wolves, coyotes, mink, otters, beavers, muskrats and rabbits.

Gathering & Plants
Harvestng wild rice, chokecherries, saskatoon berries, and highbush cranberries. Harvesting wheat, corn, potatoes, and other crops.

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WINTER
Hunting activities
Hunting bears, wolves, coyotes, prairie chickens, rabbits, moose, deer, and elk.

Trapping activities
Trapping weasels, skunks, mink, otters, beavers, muskrats bears, foxes, and lynx.

Fishing activities
Ice fishing as needed

Gathering & Plants
​None

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