Known as the Northernmost Native Nation, the Gwich’in comprise of several villages scattered in the upper reaches of Alaska, Yukon, and Northwest Canada. The word Gwich’in has come to translate to “people of the land”, and these people of the land still depend on certain elements in their environments to maintain their lives, such as the Porcupine River caribou. Therefore, Gwich’in villages are in line with the migratory movements of those animals. According to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), presently there are approximately 9,000 Gwich’in people living in their traditional homelands, where few, other then Gwich’in fear to tread.
Caribou and ANWR
One Gwich’in cultural tradition dictates that the caribou and Gwich’in are connected, meaning that the hearts of both are entwined so deeply that they are dependent upon one another. Although Western material goods have reached this part of the world, the Gwich’in are still dependent upon the porcupine caribou that are found by the thousands there, migrating to and from the same areas. These animals are still hunted for their food, certain everyday and ceremonial clothing, and tools for everyday and ceremonial means.
Annually, almost 350 caribou are hunted and used yearly. Caribou are not the only meat hunted for, but they are the most prized. The Gwich’in found themselves as being introduced to the world in the early 1900’s. This happened due to small Gwich’in families making villages outside of their traditional areas to begin trading with traders, trappers and immigrants to the area. One big trade item was rifles and ammo, which made for more kills for food that would stave off starvation in the winter.
In recent developments (as in 2001), the Gwich’in villages are rather split for and against Artic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) opening lands for oil drilling. The reason against it, is that it is a threat to their culture, the caribou and to the earth. The reason for it, they need to update their lives, since some villages believe living off caribou is no longer the best way to survive. They are starting to lobby against oil drilling in Canada’s Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, and land trade between the United States National Wildlife Refuge system and a company called Doyon, Inc.
Gwich’in Language
Concerning the language, as part of the Athabaskan language family, the Gwich’in language is related to Navajo and Apache languages. Many Gwich’in people are able to speak some words in their language. Gwich’in is broken down to eastern and western dialects. Regretfully, Gwich’in language is now considered ‘severely endangered’. Out of the 9,000 Gwich’in people living in their homes today, less then 500 of these people are fluent speakers. This number is from both Alaskan and Canadian Gwich’in villages.
Oral traditions have the Gwich’in believe that they have existed as they are since the beginning of time. As stated by Asen Balikci, archaeologists have estimated it to be for approximately 20,000 years, but more studies need to be done. Regardless, the Gwich’in are strong as they bend and flow along with their natural environments around them. Civilization has begun to encroach even these people who have chosen to live in extreme cold, and therefore the corporation called the Gwich’in Steering Committee has been in place since 1988, to try to protect the resources the Nation uses, so they can continue to live as they have always lived.
Sources
- Anwr.org. (2005-2011). “Gwich’in Indians”. Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Arctic Power. Retrieved from website on March 10, 2011.
- Balikci, Asen. (1963). Vunta Kutchin Social Change: A Study of the People of the Old Crow, Yukon Territory. Ottawa, Ont: Northern Co-ordination and Research Center, Dept. of Northern Affairs and National Resources.
- Banerjee, Subhankar & Brooke Tone Boswell & Bary Luhm & Pam Miller. (1988). “Gwich’in Nation.” Gwich’in Steering Committee. Retrieved from website on March 10, 2011.
- Gildart, Robert C. (1993). “Gwich’in: We are the People”. Native Peoples Magazine, Volume VII, Number 1. Phoenix, AZ: Media Concepts Group, Inc.
Maureen Zieber - I currently hold a Bachelor's Degree in World History, and Women's Studies, with a minor in Anthropology from the University of Delaware, ...
