Tagish facts for kids
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Canada (Yukon) | |
| Languages | |
| English, Tagish | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity, Animism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Kaska Dena, Tahltan |
The Tagish are a group of First Nations people. They are also known as the Tagish Khwáan. Their ancestors spoke an Athabaskan language. They lived around Tagish Lake and Marsh Lake in the Yukon territory of Canada.
Over time, many Tagish people married Tlingit people from the coast. The original Tagish language is no longer spoken; it became extinct in 2008. Today, most Tagish people live in Carcross or Whitehorse. They are part of the Carcross/Tagish First Nation or the Kwanlin Dün First Nation.
Who Are the Tagish?
The Tagish people are an Indigenous group from the Yukon in Canada. They are part of the larger Athabaskan language family. Their traditional lands are near Tagish Lake and Marsh Lake.
The Tagish Language
The word Tagish also refers to the language their ancestors spoke. This language was part of the Athabaskan language family. The word Tagish means "it (spring ice) is breaking up." This is also how Tagish Lake got its name.
Important Discoveries
Members of the Tagish First Nation made a very important discovery. They found gold, which started the famous Klondike Gold Rush. These key people were Keish (Skookum Jim Mason), Shaaw Tláa (Kate Carmack), and Káa goox (Dawson Charlie). Their discovery changed the history of the Yukon.
