Which animals were important food sources for American Subarctic peoples?

American Subarctic peoples traditionally relied on a variety of game animals and fish to survive in the challenging environment of the boreal forest and marshes. Because food resources were often distributed thinly across the landscape, hunting and fishing were essential subsistence activities.1

Important food sources included:

• Large Game: Moose and caribou were primary sources of meat. Other large game included bison, particularly in southern locales.1
• Small Game: Animals such as beaver and rabbits were also hunted for food.1
• Fish: Fishing was a vital part of the diet, with some groups, such as the Pacific-drainage Athabaskans, relying heavily on salmon.21

To manage these resources, Subarctic peoples utilized various technologies, including snares for small game, weirs and nets for fishing, and bows and arrows or lances for larger animals. They also preserved meat by drying and pounding it with fat and berries to create pemmican, while some groups smoked salmon for long-term storage.2