By Dorthea CalverleyThe Beaver Indians did not originally live in teepees. Europeans did not come into contact with them until the Beavers had adopted many of the ways of the Crees, and because few of the traders were interested in the early history of the Indians. The earlier housing or shelters of the Athapaskans, before… Read More

By Dorthea CalverleyThe original toboggan was just the hide of a recently killed animal on which a load was placed and dragged by the women. For woods travel it was not efficient, being too bulky to slip between trees and too hard to keep on a path. At some time it must have been discovered… Read More

By Dorthea CalverleyThe Sekani excelled in making arrows, most of which were tipped with bone rather than with flint points. There were three kinds in general use. The “cut arrow” head was a tip of caribou horn, sharpened to an awl-like point. The large end was hollowed out to receive the arrow shaft. When shot… Read More

By Dorthea CalverleyArcheologists say that clubs and spears preceded the more sophisticated bow and arrow by untold ages of time. When early man picked up the knob-ended long bone of an animal to protect himself from beast or man, or to chide an irritating spouse or relative, he had discovered a tool. When he learned… Read More

By Dorthea CalverleyYou are poking around one of the sites where an archeological team from Simon Fraser University has found, in 1974, remains of old Indian encampments. What is this? An odd-shaped, thin flat stone, thicker on one long side, perhaps with a ridge near that edge, thinner and rounded on the other edge. It… Read More

By Dorthea Calverley The chief way of primitive trapping, often carried on by the women and children, was by using snares and deadfalls. Snares were set on natural runways, or in tunnels of boughs or in a hollow log. Bait was placed where the animal was likely to put head or feet through the loop of… Read More

By Dorthea CalverleyIf Governor Simpson had been obliged to go out with the trappers he might not have been so petulant about their lack of inclination to go after the kind of furs he wanted. These were mostly from underwater animals, and prime in autumn, deep winter, or spring break-up times. Trapping is incredibly hard… Read More

An interview with Mr. George HunterInterviewer: Mr. Hunter, I believe you were a pretty good tracker yourself. Can you tell us about it and how you knew things as you traveled the trails? Mr. Hunter: That’s a trapper’s life. When you are on the line you are always looking for signs–where the animals are and… Read More

By Dorthea Calverley Early writers about the north frequently mentioned war trails. Mackenzie gave a clear description of one in his journal: “…formerly, when they used to come to make war in this country, they came in their canoes to that lake [Lesser Slave] and left them there… From thence there is a beaten path all… Read More

By Dorthea CalverleyExcept for three recorded incidents of violence in a little over two hundred years, the relations of the Beaver Indians with the white men brought nothing but praise. Governor George Simpson’s report April 22, 1824 gives his version of the reason for the closing of Fort St. John: “Mr. D. Finlayson, one of… Read More