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| A
Chipewyan Woman.
National Archives of Canada
/ C-061630 |
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Traditional Tribes
of Great Slave
Chipewyan (Denesuline)
• East Arm of Great Slave
Lake, in areas of Lutsel K’e,
the Taltson and Thelon Rivers. Historical
territory stretched as far west and south
as northern Saskatchewan and northeastern
Alberta.
• Athapaskan-speaking.
• Caribou hunters.
• Name means “pointed
skins,” referring to the cut of their
tunics, which had a long dangling tail.
• Suffered devastating
smallpox epidemic in 1781, in which 90%
of the population died.
Tlicho
Transition
A new government in an ancient
land: an historic vote held by
members of the former Dogrib Treaty
11 (current band members and descendants
of Treaty residents) in June of
2003, has ratified the “Tlicho
Agreement,” a far-reaching
land claims and self-government
document that recognizes the rights
and lands of the Tlicho people
and establishes an official Tlicho
Government.
The Tlicho lands cover a 39,000
square kilometre area north
of Great Slave Lake, including
part of the lake’s North
Arm, and the First Nations communities
of Gameti, Rae, Wah Ti and Wekweti.
Following ratification, the
agreement must be signed by
the Grand Chief and Executive
of the Dogrib Treaty 11 council
and voted on by the Government
of the Northwest Territories
and the Parliament of Canada.
The new Tlicho Government is
intended to replace the Dogrib
Treaty 11 council, and former
band councils. Its Constitution
is designed to protect the rights
of Tlicho citizens, and to protect
Tlicho heritage, language and
culture. According to the Tlicho
agreement, Tlicho citizens are
to be given employment opportunities
relating to their heritage in
Northwest Territory museums,
heritage projects and archeological
work, and Tlicho heritage resources
are to be returned where possible.
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Yellowknife (T’atsalt’ine)
• East side
of north shore of Great Slave Lake, north
to Great Bear Lake.
• Also known as
“Copper Indians” and “Red
Indians,” after their copper-handled
knives.
• Decimated by disease,
survivors believed to have been absorbed
into Chipewyan Nation.
• Athapaskan-speaking.
• Caribou hunters.
Travelled far into tundra to hunt.
Dogrib (Tlicho)
• On western
north shore of Great Slave Lake and north
to Great Bear Lake (present-day
communities of Rae-Edzo, Whati, Rae Lakes,
Snare Lake; Yellowknife Dene (Dogrib heritage)
now live in the communities of N’dilo
and Dettah near city of Yellowknife.
• Caribou hunters.
Known for sophistication of caribou skin
lodges.
• Athapaskan-speaking.
Slavey (Deh Gah Got’ine)
• West and
south of Great Slave Lake to Mackenzie River
(Deh Cho) to Liard River. (Present-day communities
include Fort Smith, Jean Marie River, Wrigley.)
• Name is translation
of derogatory Cree word, “awokanak”
or “awonak,” referring to the
Slavey’s mild-mannered lifestyle.
Regarded as weak by other tribes, but also
feared for their reputation as skilful magicians.
• Fishers and moose
hunters.
• Athapaskan-speaking.
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