Slave (tribe)
The Slave tribe, also known as the Etchaottine, belongs to the Athapaskan language family and is historically situated in regions of Canada, including the Northwest Territories, Yukon, British Columbia, and Alberta. The name "Slave" was assigned by neighboring Cree tribes and reflects a complex and often challenging historical relationship marked by dominance and encroachment. Traditionally, Slave communities were organized in independent bands, with informal governance structures including war leaders and councils of hunters. Their diet primarily consisted of fish and game, and they utilized natural resources to create tools and clothing, such as moccasins and woven caps.
The tribe exhibited a strong cultural respect for women and the elderly, and their burial practices aligned with Subarctic Athapaskan customs. The name "Slave" is derived from their subservient position during conflicts with the Cree, particularly after European contact began in the late 18th century. Despite the challenges they faced, the Etchaottine adapted and found refuge in more secure areas, preserving their cultural identity and traditions. This overview provides insight into the historical context and social structure of the Slave tribe, highlighting their resilience and rich cultural heritage.
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Slavey (tribe)
- CATEGORY: Tribe
- CULTURE AREA: Subarctic
- LANGUAGE GROUP: Athabaskan
- PRIMARY LOCATION: Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon Territory
- POPULATION SIZE: 1,700 Dene Tha’ Slavey (Canada Statistics 2022); 390 Sahtú (North Slavey) (Canada Statistics 2022)
Related to other Indigenous peoples in the Athapaskan language family, the Slavey were given the name Awokanak, or “Slave,” by their neighbors, the Cree, and this designation was adopted by explorers and traders. A subtribe of the Slavey are called the Etchaottine, possibly meaning “people dwelling in the shelter." (Other names include Dene Tha, Deh Gah Got'ine, Deh Cho, or Slave.) Their location may once have extended as far south as Lake Athabasca, but in more recent times, they have been located in reserves in the Northwest Territories, Yukon Territory, British Columbia, and Alberta in Canada.
Tribal governance was informal, with effective organization in independent bands. War leaders were chosen when necessary, and a council of hunters provided direction at other times. The Slavey diet consisted primarily of fish and game. Fish were caught with hooks and nets, while snares were used to catch beaver and other game animals. Their food was cooked in vessels of spruce bark or woven spruce roots. Clothing for men and women included shirts, leggings, and moccasins made of skins. Spruce roots were woven into caps for women, and babies were transported in bags made of rabbit fur. Canoes of birch or spruce bark (and, less frequently, of moose hide) enabled the Slavey to travel over water; snowshoes and toboggans facilitated overland travel.
Two families might share a fireplace in their summer lodges, although winter cabins were usually large enough only for one family. Slavey men were known for showing respect to women and for taking especially good care of the older and ill members. Burial customs were typical of Subarctic Athabaskans; bodies of the dead were either placed on scaffolds or covered with leaves and snow. The unusually contemptuous name “Slave” derives from the relationship of the Slavey with the powerful Cree, who early received weapons from Europeans and used them to encroach on Slavey land, dominate, and turn many into captives, either for labor or to sell. The name, also used by Europeans, reflects the subservient position of the Indigenous group in their locality. Eventually, the Slavey found refuge on the islands of the Great Slave Lake. Contact with traders, explorers, and others began in 1789 with the visit of Alexander Mackenzie. In the twenty-first century, the Slavey are a federally recognized First Nation still occupying some of their traditional lands. They work to secure land rights, assert self-governance, preserve their culture, and deal with contemporary socioeconomic pressures.
Bibliography
Crowe, Kenneth J. A History of the Original Peoples of Northern Canada. Revised ed., McGill-Queen's University Press, 2001.
“Etchareottine Tribe.” Access Geneology, accessgenealogy.com/native/etchareottine-tribe.htm. Accessed 13 Jan. 2025.
McMillan, Alan D., and Eldon Yellowhorn. First Peoples in Canada. Harbour Publishing, 2014.
Wilson, C. Roderick, and Christopher Fletcher, editors. Native Peoples: The Canadian Experience. 4th ed., Oxford University Press, 2014.