Canadian First Peoples - "Our Home and Native Land"

When I was eleven years old, my family was stationed in Masset, on the Queen Charlotte Islands, now called Haida Gwaii. The Chief of Old Massett, Chief Matthews, 'adopted' me into the Raven clan and gave me the Haida name, San Glana, which means "the dawn".

As a tribute to his generosity, I decided that no tour of Canada would be complete without introducing you to our indigenous population, who 'graciously' allowed us to take up residence in their land and show them a 'better way of life'.

Long before the Europeans discovered this vast continent, some time before the 17th century, our great land was populated by the First Peoples, or First Nations as the tribes are referred to now, and Inuit people.

The Metis, another distinct aboriginal group with recognition equal to that of First Nations and Inuit, are First People who trace their descent to European and First Nations parentage.

Presently, there are over 600 recognised First Nations bands and governments spread across Canada.

Each province and territory have tribes that are indiginous to the area. For example, you wouldn't find a Haida tribe in Nova Scotia, and vice versa, even though both provinces are coastal. Many of the tribes throughout Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario were nomadic, and followed the migrating herds across the plains, both in Canada and in the United States. After all, back then, there were no boundaries except those posed by other tribes.

For interest's sake I am beginning my list from the east coast and working my way west...or 'wet' as we say here in British Columbia.

Yukon Territory

• Chipewyan (Dene)
• Gwich'in
• Han
• Kaska
• Slavey
• Tagish
• Tanana
• Tlingit
• Tuchone
  

Northwest Territories

• Chipewyan (Dene)
• Dogrib
• Gwich'in
• Han
• Hare
• Inuit
• Kaska
• Slavey
  

Nunavut

This is the most recent Canadian Territory. Since Nunavut is a majority - Native Territory - with over 80% of the population being Inuit, the regional government is Inuit controlled. There is no other government required.

There are fewer than 100 First Nations tribal members (non-Inuit) who reside in Nunavut, however, part of the Dene hunting territory does fall within its borders, so the government recognizes the hunting and trapping rights of the Dene tribes from Manitoba.

Curiously, British Columbia has 34 distinct bands that were the original inhabitants of the area. Not only are there more tribes than each of the other provinces separately, they total more than almost half of Canada's indigenous population combined. 

• Babine-Wetsuweten
• Beaver
• Bella Coola
• Carrier
• Chilcotin
• Comox
• Cowichan
• Cree
• Gitksan
• Haida
• Haisla
• Halkomelem
• Heiltsuk
• Kaska
• Klallam

For years, many of the provinces enjoyed the beautiful Native art each area produced. Most familiar of these works are beaded moccasins, jackets, ceremonial headdresses and drums. However, the West Coast moved to the forefront of the art world in the late 1950's with the help of Bill Reid.

One of his most famous peices, "The Spirit of Haida Gwaii" is showcased at the Canadian Embassy in Washington D.C. and its near equivalent "The Jade Canoe" graces the Vancouver International Airport.

Bill Reid paved the way for other internationally acclaimed artists such as George Edenshaw and Robert Davidson.

Today there are a host of artists, each with their own renditions of traditional West Coast designs.

Although I have a long way to go before becoming a famous artist, I too embraced my adopted Haida heritage.

The picture on the right is my adopted clan, Raven.