The life style of this group was semi-nomadic, and they would follow the herds of bison during the warmer months. They traded with European traders, and worked with the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara tribes. In the earliest oral history, the Algonquins were from the Atlantic coast. Together with other Anicinàpek, they arrived at the "First Stopping Place" near Montreal. While the other Anicinàpe peoples continued their journey up the St. Lawrence River, the Algonquins settled along the "Kitcisìpi" (Ottawa River), an important highway for commerce, cultural exchange, and transportation from time immemorial. A distinct Algonquin identity, though, was not realized until after the dividing of the Anicinàpek at the "Third Stopping Place", estimated at about 2,000 years ago near present-day Detroit. According to their tradition, and from recordings in "wiigwaasabak" (birch bark scrolls), Ojibwe (an Algonquian-speaking people) came from the eastern areas of North America, or Turtle Island, and from along the east coast. They traded widely across the continent for thousands of years and knew of the canoe routes west and a land route to the west coast. According to the oral history, seven great "miigis" (radiant/iridescent) beings appeared to the peoples in the "Waabanakiing" to teach the peoples of the "mide" way of life. One of the seven great "miigis" beings was too spiritually powerful and killed the peoples in the "Waabanakiing" when the people were in its presence. The six great "miigis" beings remained to teach while the one returned into the ocean. The six great "miigis" beings then established "doodem" (clans) for the peoples in the east. Of these "doodem", the five original Anishinaabe "doodem" were the "Wawaazisii" (Bullhead), "Baswenaazhi" (Echo-maker, i.e., Crane), "Aan'aawenh" (Pintail Duck), "Nooke" (Tender, i.e., Bear) and "Moozoonsii" (Little Moose), then these six "miigis" beings returned into the ocean as well.