Métis Seasonal Constellations
Seasonal Hunts under the Stars
Following the buffalo herds was an important part of the semi-nomadic lifeways of the Métis peoples. Buffalo hunts provided food, hides and tools. Locating the herd and navigating the trails were important skills that were passed from generation to generation. Gathering in the spring and in the fall was not only an important part of the economy, but also symbolic of community connections. Rendezvous and storytelling, were opportunities to teach the younger generations about their connections to the seasonal motions of the stars.
Buffalo Hunt Connected to Seasonal Skies
The Métis traditional year included two major buffalo hunts. The first occurred in the spring/summer and the second in the fall. The spring/summer hunt begun around June 15th and ended in early August. The fall hunt started in August and ended in October or November.
Spring/Summer Hunt
Cygnus would be a seasonal constellation visible during this time. It appears in late May, and it is most visible during mid-August , meaning it would be in the sky during the entire Spring/Summer hunts. In Cree tradition, Cygnus is referred to as Niska, meaning The Goose.
Fall Hunt
At the beginning of the fall hunt, Cygnus would be at its most visible point during the year. As time passes, Cygnus would slowly begin to get closer to the horizon since it goes below the horizon in December.
The Pleiades asterism becomes visible during October and is visible all night in November, the latest time the fall hunt would end. Pleaides not only marks the beginning of winter, but also has significance in indigenous cultures. In Blackfoot tradition, Pleiades is referred to as the bunch stars. Its related skylore story, the Lost Boys, relates the seasonal sky to the land. The asterism is visible in winter and dips below the horizon in spring, which is when buffalo calves are born.
Apparent Motion of the Stars
Apparent motion is how celestial objects such as our Sun, Moon, and stars appear to move throughout the sky to an observer on Earth. This is caused by Earth’s rotation about its axis, its axial tilt, and its orbit around the Sun. Celestial objects in the sky appear to rise in the east and set in the west to an observer on Earth due to its counterclockwise rotation. Because of Earth’s axial tilt of 23.5 degrees towards Polaris and its orbit around the Sun, observers on either side of the Earth’s hemispheres experience seasonal constellations. In the northern hemisphere, the northern sky will remain the same while the southern constellations are seasonal and change throughout the year. Northern constellations that remain in the sky all year round called circumpolar constellations.
Circumpolar Constellations
Circumpolar constellations remain in the sky all year round depending on the hemisphere due to their proximity to the north or south celestial poles of Earth. They never go below the horizon, but instead appear to circle the north or south celestial poles throughout the year. Ursa Major is a circumpolar constellation in the northern hemisphere since it is close to the North Star. The angle of the constellation relative to the North Star changes throughout the year and can act as a tool to determine the current time of the year.
Seasonal Constellations
Constellations that are farther away from the Earth’s north or south celestial poles are seasonal. This is because the Sun's position on the celestial sphere changes throughout Earth’s orbit. This causes the Earth’s night side to also changes where it faces throughout the year, facing different constellations during each season. Constellations located in the southern sky on the northern hemisphere are seasonal because they rise and dip below the horizon throughout the year. Orion is an example of seasonal constellation in the northern hemisphere, appearing in the night sky during the winter.