Peoples of the Subarctic

The Canadian Subarctic stretches across the country from the Labrador coast westward and into northern Canada. The vast area includes areas of mountains, forests, lakes, rivers, muskeg, and great stretches of barren lands were no trees grow. Winters are harsh and food is often scarce. Summers are swarmed with black flies and mosquitoes.

Peoples of the Subarctic include:

Western Subarctic Eastern Subarctic

• Tsay Keh Dene (Sekani) Subarctic Cree
• Mountain Attikamek
• Kaska Dena (Kaska) Innu
• Tutchone Montagnais
• Tr'ondek Hwech'in (Han) Naskapi
• Gwich'in (Kutchin)
• Hare
• Dogrib
• Yellowknife
• Acha-otinne (Slavey)
• Dunne-za (Beaver)
• Tahltan
• Dakelh-ne (Carrier)
• Natot'en (Western Carrier)
• Wetsuwet'en
• Tagish
• Chipewyan
• Ts'ilh'aot'in (Chilcotin)
• Inland Tlingit

The Subarctic peoples lived in small groups of related families and travelled extensively and in all seasons in search for food and other resources. Homes varied in style, but all had to be easily transported and assembled. They lived in conical tents and domed tents made of caribou hides or spruce boughs. They ate caribou, musk-oxen, moose, hares, beavers, muskrats and porcupines, and a lot of fish. They also gathered berries of various kinds.

Creation story: www.arcticrefugeaction.org/about_refuge/2004Gwichinbrochure.pdf