In Episode 1, we explore the deep histories of the northern half of North America long before the name "Canada" existed.

• Origin Stories: We contrast scholarly theories of migration (like the Bering Land Bridge) with Indigenous origin narratives rooted in the land.

• Diverse Worlds: We survey complex regional societies, from the salmon-based potlatch systems of the Pacific Northwest and the bison-hunting peoples of the Plains to the agricultural Haudenosaunee League and the sophisticated adaptations of the Inuit.

• A Populous Continent: We examine trade networks and diplomacy to show that Europeans arrived in a fully inhabited world, rather than "discovering" an empty land.

🗺️ VISUAL COMPANION:History happens on a map. Download the custom infographics and artwork for this episode to follow along with the story:

• Download Visual Guide 1: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W5i0_LiYht5wqXVCHlsZtWIPjU8UzZmc/view?usp=drive_link

• Download Visual Guide 2: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hU9H2qRzHtE9c62gAveg2PSJT278sBN5/view?usp=sharing

Welcome to Storman Norman Presents—where curiosity meets cutting-edge tech. We explore personal interests, timely topics, and fascinating deep dives.

🌟 DEBUT SERIES: From Time Immemorial to Confederation (Jan 12) A 5-part special uncovering the gritty, 14,000-year reality of how Canada was forged—from Indigenous worlds and fur trade wars to the political deadlock of 1867.

Series Release Schedule:

• Mon, Jan 12 | Episode 1: Before Canada

• Tue, Jan 13 | Episode 2: First Contacts (c. 1497-1763)

• Wed, Jan 14 | Episode 3: Revolutions & Redrawing the Map (1763-1815)

• Thu, Jan 15 | Episode 4: Furs, Frontiers & Rebellions (1815-1860)

• Fri, Jan 16 | Episode 5: On the Edge of a New Dominion (1860-1867)

Episode 1 Sources & Recommended Reading:

Open Educational Resources (Read Free Online)

• Canadian History: Pre‑Confederation (2nd ed.) by John Douglas Belshaw

  See Chapter 1 (“When Was Canada?”) and Chapter 2 (“Indigenous Canada before Contact”).

  Read online: https://opentextbc.ca/preconfederation/

• Histories of Indigenous Peoples and Canada by John Douglas Belshaw, Sarah Nickel, and Chelsea Horton

  See Introduction and early chapters on the deep past.

  Read online: https://histindigenouspeoples.pressbooks.tru.ca/

🎙️ Powered by the Magic of AI

This series is a fully AI-generated experience. The research outlines, scripts, host voices, and artwork were all created by artificial intelligence, curated and managed by Storman Norman Presents.

Streaming on Spotify, Apple, Amazon and YouTube.

Keywords:Canadian History, Indigenous History, Pre-Contact, Turtle Island, Haudenosaunee, First Nations, Inuit, Oral History, Archaeology, Pacific Northwest, Storman Norman Presents