Groups
Below are some well-known groups of the Subarctic and their specific and unique ways of life. It is clear that many group names are actually derived or directly come from words of other languages, mainly English and Cree. This is due to the fact that the Europeans named many of these independent groups, and Cree of the Algonquian language family is actually the most spoken Canadian Aboriginal language.
Dene / Athapascan
Beaver
Women of the Beaver tribe.
These people, also named from an English word, live along Peace River directly south of the
Slavey people. They speak Athapascan.
Slavey people. They speak Athapascan.
Chipewyan
Chipewyan families.
The name is a Cree word for "pointed skins." These people live in parts of northern Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, as well as southern Northwest Territories. They also speak Athapascan.
Dogrib
Dogribs lived in teepees.
The name comes from a Cree word meaning "Athapascan speakers." They do speak an Athapascan language. The Dogrib are situated east of the Mackenzie River, and are between the Great Slave Lake and the Great Bear Lake.
Hare
The Hare people raised Indian dogs.
Europeans called these people the Hare for their usage of the snowshoe hare for their food and clothing. They live along the Mackenzie River, and they speak Athapascan.
Mountain
Europeans also named these people, this time for their home location next to the Mackenzie Mountains. They reside
between the Mackenzie Mountains and the Mackenzie River, and they speak Athapascan.
between the Mackenzie Mountains and the Mackenzie River, and they speak Athapascan.
Slavey
Slavey women.
"Slavey" is a Cree word for "Captive." These people live in the boreal forest region of the west, and they speak Athapascan.
Gwich'in
A Gwich'in family in front of their home.
The Gwich'in live far up north, even beyond the Arctic Circle. They are located at the boundary of Inuit territory. They speak an Athapascan language that is very different from other languages of the shared root, so that it is not understandable by any other tribe except for the Han.
Han
The Han live on the Yukon-Alaska boundary. They too, like
the Gwich'in, speak a different Athapascan language that is only understandable by the Gwich'in and no other Athapascan tribe.
the Gwich'in, speak a different Athapascan language that is only understandable by the Gwich'in and no other Athapascan tribe.
Cree
The Cree tribes cover the most area in the Subarctic. Split into three major parts of Western, Central, and Eastern Cree, these people are spread across areas of Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. The term "Cree" is believed to have come from the shortened version of the French word "Kristineaux." The Cree people were important to the first European explorers for guides to the land as well as traders for resources and furs. They speak five different Algonquian dialects, and Cree is the most spoken Canadian Aboriginal language today.
Innu
An Innu hunter in the snow.
The Innu are also called the Naskapi, or the Montagnais as
a French word for mountains. However, their own name for themselves is "Mushua
Innuts," which means "Barren Land People." They live in the easter part of Quebec and Labrador, and they speak an Algonquian language.
a French word for mountains. However, their own name for themselves is "Mushua
Innuts," which means "Barren Land People." They live in the easter part of Quebec and Labrador, and they speak an Algonquian language.
Kaska
The Kaska live in the mountains that are drained by the Liard River. They speak an Athapascan language.
Northern Ojibwa
These people live in the northern part of Ontario next to the Cree. They speak an Algonquian language.
Tutchones
These people live in the plateau near the Alsek River and
the Yukon River. They also speak Athapascan.
the Yukon River. They also speak Athapascan.
Tsetsaut
"Tsetsaut" is a Tsimshian term for "people of the
interior." These people live in the Portland Canal area, and they spoke an Athapascan language. However, today their unique dialect is nonexistent. This is because the Tsetsaut people were hunted and killed in battle with other tribes. In 1985, there were only 12 Tsetsaut living in Canada.
interior." These people live in the Portland Canal area, and they spoke an Athapascan language. However, today their unique dialect is nonexistent. This is because the Tsetsaut people were hunted and killed in battle with other tribes. In 1985, there were only 12 Tsetsaut living in Canada.