NAHANE INDIANS IN CANADA

THESE PEOPLE OF THE WEST SPEAK ATHAPASKAN. THEY LIVE BETWEEN THE COAST RANGE AND ROCKY COAST RANGE AND ROCKY MOUNTAINS AND YUKON TERRITORY. THEY FORM A MAJOR DIVISION OF THIS LINGUISTIC STOCK. SOME EASTERN BANDS NAHANE MAY HAVE BEEN MET BY MACKENZIE IN 1789. FORT SIMPSON BECAME THE JUNCTION OF EXPLORATION ON THE MACKENZIE RIVER. IT WAS BUILT IN THE EARLY 1800'S. THERE WAS FORT LIARD AND FORT NELSON IN THIS TERRITORY. THE NAHANE DESTROYED ONE OF THE FORTS. IN 1838 A SCOTCH OFFICER OFFICER BUILT A TRADING POST HERE. HOWEVER, IT WAS BURNED BY THE COASTAL TRIBE.

IN 1780 THERE WERE ABOUT 2000 NAHANE INDIANS IN THE PRESENT B.C. AND IN YUKON ANOTHER 800 FOLKS. THE NAHANE WERE AFFECTED BY THE KLONDIKE GOLD RUSH.
THEY DAILY USED CANOES AND DID LITTLE WALKING. MOST WERE EXPERT SWIMMERS.AND THEY DIVE INTO THE ROUGH SEAS AND BRING OUT WOUNDED SEALS TO EAT. THE AUTHOR BELIEVES THE HYDA WERE MORE HANDSOME. ALL WERE DESTROYED BY ANGLO SMALLPOX. THEY USED TO WEAR SEA OTTER CLOCKS TO KEEP WARM WITH BREECH CLOTH AND LEATHER GARMENTS. THE MEN WEAR HATS. THEY USED TO WEAR SEA OTTER CLOAKS TO KEEP WARM WITH BREECHCLOTH AND LEATHER GARMENTS. THE MEN WEAR HATS, THE WOMEN RARELY DO. THE ELDERLY WOMEN WEAR HATS WOVEN FROM SPRUCE. MOST OF THE FOLKS BARE FOOT IN SUMMER. ALL ARE TATTOED ON ARMS AND LEGS. IT REPRESENTS A TRIBAL OR FAMILY TOTEM. DURING DANCES THEY PAINT THEIR FACES. MEDICINE MEN ARE FOND OF ORNAMENTS. THE WOMEN ADORN THEMSELVES WITH SILVER BRACELETS, FEATHERS, ABALONE, SHELLS, AND DEER TOES.

THEY HAVE POOR SOCIAL RELATIONS. THEY ARE QUIET AND PEACEFUL. ONCE UNDER INFLUENCE OF THE MISSIONARIES THEY ARE MORE SOCIALLY TRAINED. THEY MARRY WHEN THEY ARE ARE UNDER 16 YEARS OF AGE. THE PARENTS OFTEN ARRANGE MARRIAGES. THE COUPLE BEGINS LIVING TOGETHER WITHOUT CEREMONY. IF THE COUPLE ARE CHRISTIAN THEY HAVE A MARRIAGE WITH THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. POLYGAMY USED TO BE COMMON BUT NOT NOW. MOST WOMEN HAVE AS MUCH VOICE IN FAMILY AFFAIRS AS MEN.

POTLATCHES ARE COMMON AMONG ALL NORTHWEST TRIBES IT DISTRIBUTES PROPERTY AMONG THE NORTHWEST TRIBES. THEY ARE GIVEN TO THE COMMUNITY TO ACQUIRE POPULARITY FOR COMPENSATION OF LABOR PERFORMED. CHIEFS HOLD LARGE POTLATCHES AND 100'S OF BLANKETS ARE DISTRIBUTED.

NATIVE-LANGUAGES.ORG
ACCESS-GENEOLOGY.COM