Kaska Dena facts for kids
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 1,435 (2016 census) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Canada (British Columbia, Yukon) | |
| Languages | |
| English, Kaska | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity, Animism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Tagish, Tahltan, Nahani |
The Kaska or Kaska Dena are a First Nations group in Canada. They live mainly in northern British Columbia and the southeastern Yukon. The Kaska people speak the Kaska language, which is part of the Athabaskan language family.
Contents
Kaska Dena Bands
The Kaska Dena people are made up of five main local groups, often called bands. Each band has its own traditional area and name.
Tu tcogotena: Big Water Dwellers
The Tu tcogotena (meaning "Big Water Dwellers") lived near Frances Lake and Frances River. Their hunting grounds stretched to the Hyland and Smith rivers. They also hunted near the Liard and Dease rivers.
Ki stagotena: Mountain Dwellers
The Ki stagotena (also known as Tsetotena, meaning "Mountain Dwellers") lived in the southern and southeastern parts of the Kaska territory. Their land included the valleys of the Dease River. Some of these people were called Ozanna, meaning "people of the same blood."
Espatodena: Wild Goat Hunters
The Espatodena (meaning "Dwellers Among the Wild Goats") and Gata otena (meaning "People Who Hunt Rabbits") lived east of the Tu tcogotena. They were found near the Beaver River and the Nahanni River. They also hunted where the Coal River meets the Liard River.
Naatitu a gotena: River Headwaters People
The Naatitu a gotena (meaning "Dwellers at a Sharp Mountain Where a Little River Starts") lived near the headwaters of the Liard River. They traveled to the Pelly River for salmon. They also fished at Watson Lake and hunted along the Hyland River. Their main trading spot was traditionally at Daylu, also known as Lower Post.
Tse lona: Mountain Top People
The Tse lona (meaning "Mountain Top") people lived south and east of the Ki stagotena. They hunted in the Rocky Mountain valleys, the Kechika range, and near the Toad and Flat rivers. Some families in this group are known as Tse Tsiyinetena or "Wolf People of the Mountains."
Kaska Dena Communities
Today, Kaska Dena people live in several communities and belong to different First Nations groups:
- Ross River, Yukon (part of the Ross River Dena Council)
- Watson Lake and Upper Liard, Yukon (part of the Liard River First Nation)
- Good Hope Lake, British Columbia (part of the Dease River First Nation)
- Lower Post, British Columbia, near Watson Lake (part of the Kaska Nation)
Some Kaska Dena also live in British Columbia communities like Fireside and Muncho Lake. These are located along the Alaska Highway between Watson Lake and Fort Nelson. The Kwadacha First Nation (Fort Ware) is part of the Kaska Dena tribal council, but they are Sekani people.
Traditional Kaska Life
Historically, the Kaska people have always had a deep respect for the land and nature. They followed the seasons to find food. This included hunting animals like caribou and gathering seasonal foods such as berries.
They used waterways like the Liard River and Frances River to travel. They journeyed from Dease Lake to Frances Lake. They also had many well-known trails through the bush for traveling.
Impact of Colonization
After the colonization of the Yukon and the building of the Alaska Highway, the Kaska people faced many changes. The government tried to make them adopt new ways of life. Because of this, the Kaska people lost much of their traditional culture. This included a significant loss of the Kaska language.
Lower Post was the site of a residential school. Kaska children had to attend this school until it closed in 1975. These schools had a lasting impact on First Nations communities.
Kaska Culture Today
In 2005, a film called One of Many was made by French filmmaker Jo Béranger. This film followed Sally Tisiga, a Kaska person, as she explored her cultural identity. It shows how Kaska people are working to reconnect with their heritage.
