The Gwich’in people live in the upper reaches of Alaska and Canada. They are known as resilient people, with some of them living above the Arctic Circle. The name Gwich’in translated means ‘people of the land’. Gwich’in culture for thousands of years has remained intact do to limited outside exposure. That was, until the late nineteenth century. Like all other native populations, the Gwich’in are trying to survive in an evolving and rapid paced world. Their language is endangered; their culture is loosing some of the old traditions; but they are still between 5,000 to 9,000 person force living in some of the harshest terrains on earth.
Storytelling
For many Gwich’in people, they are fantastic story tellers. Every part of their lives can be recounted with a moral story told from one generation to another. Until very recently, the tradition was done only orally, but there is a cultural interest in recording and preserving stories. These stories are filled with people talking to animals, having powers, and or doing comically odd things. These are moral tales to live by for Gwich’in people, how to act, how to live, what to do in times of trouble.
Spiritual Beliefs
A long held belief that Gwich’in have is their connection and devotion to the Porcupine Caribou that migrate from one area to another in Alaska and Canada. Animism (belief in non human deities) was practiced originally for thousands of years, and there was no broad belief in a superior God. The belief extended to the thought that everything has a soul or life-force. There is a strong belief in an afterlife, where all things from earth die and go to exist. The afterlife is determined by individual deeds and events that will allow the person or animal to have a good or bad afterlife. The traditional spiritual beliefs uphold an individual’s role of destiny. "Dinjii Dazhan" or medicine people were believed to have special powers that enabled them to see and do things normal humans were not.
As time progressed, religion changed and shifted as outside Gwich’in influences made themselves known. The mid-nineteenth century brought in Western influences, fur trappers, and Christianity. There is a Bible translated into Gwich’in from translations made by several tribal people and religious figures over a century ago. The tome is not very accurate, and therefore has not been used since the new edition written in the mid-twentieth century.
The Gwich’in live in twelve different villages that are all run by their own independent governments. Each village has a mixture of traditional beliefs and Christianity. Gwich’in connection to earth and its creatures are still tantamount to survival, but with modern convince such as guns and warmer clothing, traditional practices are becoming a thing of the past. It is hoped that Gwich’in elders will continue to record and maintain practices and teach younger generations. Even though the original cultural aspects have changed, the Gwich’in people are still maintaining a level of traditional beliefs.
Sources
- Gildart, Robert C. (1993). “Gwich’in: We are the People” Native Peoples Magazine, Volume 7, Number 1. Phoenix, AZ: Media Concepts Group, Inc.
- Gwich’in Council International. (2009). “The Gwich’in”.Retrieved on March 20, 2011 from http://www.gwichin.org/gwichin.html.
- Heine, Michael K. (2001). Gwichya Gwich’in Googwandak: The History and Stories of the Gwichya Gwich’in ; As Told by the Elders of Tsiigehtchic. Tsiigehtchic, N.W.T.: Gwich’in Social and Cultural Institute.
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, ...
