Tahltan
Tagish |
The Tahltan or
Culture
The Tahltan cultural practices and lifeways varied widely as they were often widely separated and would have to endure varying conditions depending on their locality.[2] In Tahltan culture it was believed that some of their ancestors had knowledge that others did not from times before a great flood.[3]: 232 Some of these ancestors used that knowledge for the good of the people, while others used it for evil and to the disadvantage of others. Raven is considered to be the protagonist hero against these evil ancestors.[4]
Social organization
Tahltan social organization is founded on
- Kartchottee (Raven)—This family originated in the Interior toward the headwaters of the Taku River. This is the most numerous family of the tribe, also represented by the frog.
- Nanyiee (Wolf)—Also represented by the Tlingit; and then ascended the Stikine River and became a family of the Tahltan.
- Talarkoteen (Wolf)—Originating near Dease Lakeand then crossed to the Tuya.
- Tuckclarwaydee (Wolf)—Also represented by the brown bear, the eagle, and the killer-whale. This family is credited as being the founders of the Tahltan tribe, originating in the interior near the headwaters of Nags river.
Government
Contemporary Tahltan society constitutes itself as the Tahltan Nation, which comprises the membership and governments of the Tahltan First Nation and Iskut First Nation.
History
Ten thousand years ago, the Tahltan people used obsidian from Mount Edziza to make tools and weapons for trading material. This is the main source of obsidian found in northwestern British Columbia.[6][7]
Coal-bed methane conflict
Coal-bed methane extraction had already been the subject of protests in the
Since 2005, the Klabona Keepers, a group of Tahltan elders, have watched the road leading through Tahltan territory towards the
In 2004, Shell was awarded the oil and gas rights to the Klappan Valley, one of
Representatives from Shell assert a determination to reach consensus in the community and note that the elected
On December 18, 2012, the B.C. government announced that Shell would be withdrawing its plans to explore and drill for coalbed methane gas in the Tahltan Territory.[9] According to the Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition, Shell has launched a lawsuit against Talhtan elders for loss of revenue.[8] The Klabona Keepers have filed a counter-suit for failure to consult. Employment opportunities have come from natural resources development in recent years. Because of various concerns over the lands, the parties involved balance development and environmental aspects.
Talk of an Alaska-Canada railroad traversing Tahltan lands recurs every so often with feasibility studies being done.[10]
Language
Tahltan is a poorly documented Northern
- Kaska: approximately 400 speakers (Poser 2003)
- Tahltan: approximately 35 speakers (Poser 2003)
- Tagish: no fluent speakers as of 2008
See also
- Tahltan, British Columbia
- Tahltan Bear Dog
- Raven Tales#Tahltan
Notes and references
Notes
- ^ Emmons, George Thornton (1911). The Tahltan Indians. Philadelphia: The University Museum. Retrieved 2014-03-29.
- )
- JSTOR 534980.
- ^ "The Raven cycle". SAMS Anthology. Society for Ancient & Medieval Studies. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ^ Hodge, F.W. (1906). Handbook of American Indians
- ^ Journey & Transformations: British Columbia Landscapes Archived 2007-10-11 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2007-10-12
- ^ Catalogue of Canadian volcanoes - Stikine Volcanic Belt: Mount Edziza Archived 2008-06-10 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2007-10-12
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Native Group Opposes Mining on Sacred Site, Joan Delaney, The Epoch Times (Toronto Edition), December 6, 2007.
- ^ "B.C. Calls off oil-and-gas development plan in Tahltan territory". 19 December 2012.
- ^ Alaska-Canada railroad
- '^ Marianne Mithun. The Languages of Native North America. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999.
References
- Hodge, Frederick Webb, Compiler. The Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico. Bureau of American Ethnology, Government Printing Office, 1906. As cited in Access Genealogy: Indian Tribal Records. Retrieved 4 December 2008.
- Emmons, George Thornton (1911). The Tahltan Indians. Philadelphia: The University Museum. Retrieved 2014-03-29.
External links
- Tahltan Central Council
- Map of Northwest Coast First Nations
- Photos of the Tahltan
- "A Gentle Revolution". The Walrus. December 2005 – January 2006. Archived from the original on 2008-08-28.