The paper presents background information on the Algonquins' geographical location, history, Indian status and rights, culture, and language (Algonquin dialects are compared). The Algonquin Bands live in the Province of Quebec in an area known as the Laurentian Shield. In general, these tribes lived much further south. The impetus for the migration north appears to have been the expansion of the Iroquoian tribes out of present day New York State and Pennsylvania. The Iroquoian expansion coincided with the arrival of the Europeans. The basic over-riding assumption of the European-Indian relationship was that Indians were subject peoples and did not have sovereignty. Two considerations, trade and military affairs, characterized the first two centuries of Indian policy. Algonquin Proper is one of the languages in the large group called Algonquian which geographically was the most extensive language stock in North America. The first Algonquins came to the Bloomfield Central School District in 1945. Originally most of the Algonquins came from Maniwaki, but over the years, the majority have come from further north: Rapid Lake, Grand Lake Victoria, Lac Simon, and Amos. During the pelting season which begins in November and lasts until Christmas or early January, many children come to school in the district. Also a number of families have settled in the area and work on the fur farms and at other jobs year round. The reserves which have sent Algonquian speakers to the school district are Maniwaki, Rapid Lake, Lac Simon, and Amos. (NQ)