BLOOD GROUPS OF THE NASKAPI AND MONTAGNAIS INDIANS OF SCHEFFERVILLE, QUEBEC.

THE Algonkian linguistic group, to which the Naskapi and Montagnais Indians belong, formerly occupied a large section of central and northeastern North America. The group is still represented in Eastern Canada by the Malecites and Micmacs of the Maritime provinces; the Montagnais, Naskapis, and Eastern Crees of Quebec and Labrador; the Woodland and Swampy Bay Crees near James and Hudson Bays; the Algonkins and Ojibwas of Southwest Quebec and Ontario. The Abnakis and Penobscots of Maine are also of this group. Knowledge of genetical variation among the Algonkian tribes will permit more secure comparison of tribes within the linguistic group, and of this group with others. The most useful traits for the determination of genetical variation are biochemical polymorphisms, including red blood groups and serum protein groups. Studies of blood group frequencies among the Eastern Algonkians are few: Gates (1938) has described some of the Micmacs; Chown and Lewis (1956) some of the James Bay and Hudson Bay Crees; Allen and Corcoran (1960) some of the Maine Penobscots.