The last war excursion they made against the Esquimaux was ten years ago
when they destroyed about thirty persons at the mouth of what they term
Stony-Point River, not far from the mouth of the Copper-Mine River. They
now seem desirous of being on friendly terms with that persecuted nation
and hope through our means to establish a lucrative commerce with them.
Indeed the Copper Indians are sensible of the advantages that would
accrue to them were they made the carriers of goods between the traders
and Esquimaux.
At the time of Hearne's visit the Copper Indians, being unsupplied with
firearms, were oppressed by the Chipewyans; but even that traveller had
occasion to praise their kindness of heart. Since they have received arms
from the traders the Chipewyans are fearful of venturing upon their
lands; and all of that nation who frequent the shores of Great Slave Lake
hold the name of Akaitcho in great respect. The Chipewyans have no leader
of equal authority among themselves.
The number of the Copper Indians may be one hundred and ninety souls
namely eighty men and boys and one hundred and ten women and young
children. There are forty-five hunters in the tribe. The adherents of
Akaitcho amount to about forty men and boys; the rest follow a number of
minor chiefs.
For the following notices of the nations on Mackenzie's River we are
principally indebted to Mr. Wentzel who resided for many years in that
quarter.
The Thlingchadinneh or Dog-Ribs or as they are sometimes termed after the
Crees, who formerly warred against them, Slaves, inhabit the country to
the westward of the Copper Indians as far as Mackenzie's River. They are
of a mild, hospitable, but rather indolent disposition; spend much of
their time in amusements and are fond of singing and dancing. In this
respect and in another they differ very widely from most of the other
aborigines of North America. I allude to their kind treatment of the
women. The men do the laborious work whilst their wives employ themselves
in ornamenting their dresses with quill-work and in other occupations
suited to their sex. Mr. Wentzel has often known the young married men to
bring specimens of their wives' needlework to the forts and exhibit them
with much pride. Kind treatment of the fair sex being usually considered
as an indication of considerable progress in civilisation it might be
worthwhile to inquire how it happens that this tribe has stepped so far
beyond its neighbours. It has had undoubtedly the same common origin with
the Chipewyans, for their languages differ only in accent, and their mode
of life is essentially the same. We have not sufficient data to prosecute
the inquiry with any hope of success but we may recall to the reader's
memory what was formerly mentioned, that the Dog-Ribs say they came from
the westward, whilst the Chipewyans say that they migrated from the
eastward.
When bands of Dog-Ribs meet each other after a long absence they perform
a kind of dance. A piece of ground is cleared for the purpose, if in
winter of the snow, or if in summer of the bushes; and the dance
frequently lasts for two or three days, the parties relieving each other
as they get tired. The two bands commence the dance with their backs
turned to each other, the individuals following one another in Indian
file and holding the bow in the left hand and an arrow in the right. They
approach obliquely after many turns and, when the two lines are closely
back to back, they feign to see each other for the first time and the bow
is instantly transferred to the right hand and the arrow to the left,
signifying that it is not their intention to employ them against their
friends. At a fort they use feathers instead of bows. The dance is
accompanied with a song. These people are the dancing-masters of the
country. The Copper Indians have neither dance nor music but what they
borrow from them. On our first interview with Akaitcho at Fort Providence
he treated us as has already been mentioned with a representation of the
Dog-Rib Dance; and Mr. Back during his winter journey had an opportunity
of observing it performed by the Dog-Ribs themselves.
The chief tribe of the Dog-Rib nation, termed Horn Mountain Indians,
inhabit the country betwixt Great Bear Lake and the west end of Great
Slave Lake. They muster about two hundred men and boys capable of
pursuing the chase. Small detachments of the nation frequent Marten Lake
and hunt during the summer in the neighbourhood of Fort Enterprise.
Indeed this part of the country was formerly exclusively theirs, and most
of the lakes and remarkable hills bear the names which they imposed upon
them. As the Copper Indians generally pillage them of their women and
furs when they meet they endeavour to avoid them and visit their ancient
quarters on the barren grounds only by stealth.
Immediately to the northward of the Dog-Ribs, on the north side of Bear
Lake River, are the Kawchodinneh or Hare Indians who also speak a dialect
of the Chipewyan language and have much of the same manners with the
Dog-Ribs, but are considered both by them and by the Copper Indians to be
great conjurors. These people report that in their hunting excursions to
the northward of Great Bear Lake they meet small parties of Esquimaux.
Immediately to the northward of the Hare Indians on both banks of
Mackenzie's River are the Tykotheedinneh, Loucheux, Squint-Eyes, or
Quarrellers. They speak a language distinct from the Chipewyan. They war
often with the Esquimaux at the mouth of Mackenzie's River but have
occasionally some peaceable intercourse with them, and it would appear
that they find no difficulty in understanding each other, there being
considerable similarity in their languages.
