The map shows the distribution of Aboriginal peoples early in the seventeenth century before the eastern population dislocations. Ethnohistorical societies are identified on the map by the major linguistic family to which they belong. Ethnohistorical societies are Aboriginal peoples that were known by name and location to Europeans early in the seventeenth century. Also mapped are the major archaeological sites current to 1980. A linguistic family code identifies each ethnohistorical society on the map and is used to reference specific information for each ethnohistorical society (refer to the Atlas of Canada's 5th Edition map Native Peoples 1630 for the information).