Nahani

Nahani (Nahane, Nahanni) is an Athapaskan word used to designate native groups located in British Columbia, Northwest Territories and the Yukon Territories between the upper Liard River and the 64th parallel north latitude. While these native groups do not necessarily have anything in common, the Canadian government used the term "Nahani" until the 1970s to refer to them collectively. They were divided into several tribes:

• Kaska, located between the Dease River and the Beaver River divided into two bands, the Titshotina (mountain people) to the east and the Tsezotine (big water people) to the west.
• Esbataottine (Goat), located north and west of the Kaska along the Beaver River, South Nahanni River, and North Nahanni River.
• Etagottine, in the valleys of Gravel River and Dahachuni River.
• Tagish, about Tagish Lake and Marsh Lake.
• Takutine, on Teslin River and Teslin Lake and upper Taku River.
• Titshotina, between the Cassiar Mountains and Liard and Dense Rivers, in British Columbia.
• Pelly River Indians: The Pelly and Ross River tribes were destroyed in 1884, likely by a band of Hare Indians. A band consisting of two survivors as well as members from surrounding tribes reformed in the same area under this name.
• Tahltan were sometimes considered a Nahani tribe.

Currently these groups are identified as Southern Tutchone and Kaska language speakers. In 1996, there were 2,407 registered Nahani in Canada.

References

• The Indians of Canada, Diamond Jenness, 1932.
• The Canadian Encyclopedia
• The Indian Tribes of North America, John Reed Swanton, 1952.