The Algonquins are indigenous inhabitants of North America who speak the Algonquin language, a divergent dialect of the Ojibwe language (a Chippewa people group), which is part of the Algonquian language family. Along with Algonquin, they also speak English and/or French.

The Indians who lived around the Chesapeake Bay spoke three totally different languages as well as multiple dialects. Most of the tribes spoke Algonquian languages, but others spoke Siouan and Iroquoian languages.

Traditionally, the Algonquins were practitioners of Midewiwin (the right path). They believed they were surrounded by many manitòk or spirits in the natural world. French missionaries converted many Algonquins to Catholicism in the 17th and 18th centuries. Today, many of the people practice traditional Midewiwin or a syncretic merging of Christianity and Midewiwin.

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