Carrier tribe - Definition and Overview

The Carrier are the indigenous people of a large portion of the central interior of British Columbia. They call themselves Dakelh, meaning "people who go around in boats". The term "Carrier" is a translation of the Sekani name for them, which Europeans learned first because they crossed Sekani territory before entering Carrier territory.

The Carrier language is an Athabaskan language. The people who are referred to as Carrier speak two related languages. One, Babine-Witsuwit'en is sometimes referred to as Northern Carrier. The other, Carrier proper, includes what are sometimes referred to as Central Carrier and Southern Carrier. Like most of the languages of British Columbia, Carrier is an endangered language. Only about 10% of Carrier people now speak Carrier, hardly any of them children.

External links

The Yinka Dene Language Institute (http://ydli.org) is concerned with the languages and culture of Carrier and other Athabaskan-speaking people of British Columbia. This web site contains extensive information about the Carrier language and other First Nations languages of British Columbia.

The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council (http://www.cstc.bc.ca) represents many of the Carrier bands. Its web site contains information about the tribe and about current political issues.