By Dorthea Calverley I. Introduction The northern area of North America lying south of the Inuit land was bilingual four to ten thousand years before the French and English in the 1960’s began squabbling about official languages. When the fur traders entered the Peace River area, they found many tribes speaking a language that was new… Read More

 By Dorthea Calverley Two artifacts observed in the extensive Indian collection of Mr. Hackworth in 1973 in Dawson Creek prompted the question: “Were the local Indians congenitally or functionally left handled.” Both objects showed simple adaptation of a natural pebble by working “dints” in the surface to fit the fingers of an adult, but of only… Read More

By the students of Main School, Moose Factory, Ontario.  The Cree Calendar revolves around nature, much mention of, birds, — things that migrate or move are more observable. Food– they eat geese (p. = peesim = “Moon of the” ) January Tree Exploding month (by Frost )* Kacha papi watakinum p. February Great moon (hope… Read More

By Dorthea CalverleyA people who do not write must speak – and speak well. To be effective, speech must be eloquent – defined in the Oxford Concise Dictionary as “fluent, forcible, (with) apt use of language.” In spite of the movie and fictional stereotyping of the Indian as silent, surly and uncommunicative the Indians, among… Read More

By Dorthea CalverleyHis birth was celebrated in song. At his death, he went out singing. At all important events in his life, he sang. At all of the tribal ceremonies there was singing. In a culture in which writing was not practised, it is natural that high moments should bring forth music-vocal music. Like mothers… Read More

By Dorthea CalverleyThe Beavers may have had in their mythology a legendary “luck spirit” to correspond with the Cree’s Pah-ka-kos. The Cree’s Give-Away Dance was held by the Crees to seek the favour of Pah-ka-kos. Considering how uniform the religious practices were among all the Northern Indians, it is likely that the Beaver did. In… Read More

 By Dorthea CalverleyIn spite of the name “Sundance Lakes” for two very small lakes along the John Hart Highway, there appears to be agreement that the Crees did not import the Sundance of the southern prairies into this area. Those two lakes were used by the Beavers as the locale of summer gatherings of the… Read More

By Dorthea Calverley In his description of the Beaver Indians, Mackenzie says “They carry their love of gambling to excess; they will pursue it for a succession of days and nights and no apprehension of ruin, nor influence of domestic affection will restrain them from their indulgence of it.” What Mackenzie did not take into account… Read More

By Dorthea Calverley Until their conversion to Christianity, religion played no part in the institution of matrimony among the northern Indians — economics did. A man who was a particular success in hunting needed a crew to take care of the meat. Since employing help was unknown, he naturally attached to his household as many women… Read More

By Dorthea CalverleyMarriage as an institution was recognized among Indians but marriage, as a ceremony had almost no existence among any of the Northern Indians. The method of announcing to the group that a couple was married undoubtedly differed from band to band, but in general it was the same for all of the Athapaskans…. Read More