Lake Babine Nation
Encyclopedia
Lake Babine Nation is a Babine
First Nation originally based around Babine Lake
. Its main community has been in Woyenne, near Burns Lake, since many of the nation's members moved there in the 1940s. Other year-round communities include Tachek (or Tachet, Tache or Tachie) on the west side of Babine Lake, and Wit'at
(Fort Babine) at the end of the northwest arm of the lake. Seasonal communities include Nedo'ats (Old Fort) at the north end of the lake and Donald's Landing (Pinkut Nation) toward the south end.
The nation consists of roughly 2,000 members, living both on and off reserve. Its traditional language is Babine-Witsuwit'en
, a Northern Athabaskan language. It was initially created in December 1957 by legislation from the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada which amalgamated the Fort Babine and Old Fort Bands. It is currently at stage 4 of the British Columbia Treaty Negotiation Process.
Woyenne, with approximately 940 residents, is adjacent to the community of Burns Lake, British Columbia
, but has its own preschool, kindergarten, daycare, and adult learning centre. The Nation's main band office is located in Woyenne.
Wit'at (Fort Babine) has approximately 60 permanent residents, an elementary school, a health clinic, a water treatment plant and a satellite band office. Because the forced amalgamation in the 1950s, there has been a separation movement in the community of Wit'at. In fact, some people in this community will refer to themselves as "Wit'at Nation."
Tachek also has approximately 130 permanent residents, a satellite band office, a water treatment plant and a convenience store.
Babine
In its broader sense, Babine refers to the Athabascan Indians who speak the Babine dialect of the Babine-Witsuwit'en language in the vicinity of the Babine River, Babine Lake, Trembleur Lake, and Takla Lake in the central interior of British Columbia, Canada....
First Nation originally based around Babine Lake
Babine Lake
Babine Lake is the longest natural lake in British Columbia, Canada.Babine Lake is located northeast of the town of Burns Lake in central British Columbia, some west northwest of the city of Prince George. It is long, wide, and has a net area of and a total area of...
. Its main community has been in Woyenne, near Burns Lake, since many of the nation's members moved there in the 1940s. Other year-round communities include Tachek (or Tachet, Tache or Tachie) on the west side of Babine Lake, and Wit'at
Fort Babine
Fort Babine, British Columbia is a small native reserve community, located at the northern tip of Babine Lake, approximately 100 km north of Smithers. It is accessible by an all-weather gravel logging road. There are approximately 60 year-round residents...
(Fort Babine) at the end of the northwest arm of the lake. Seasonal communities include Nedo'ats (Old Fort) at the north end of the lake and Donald's Landing (Pinkut Nation) toward the south end.
The nation consists of roughly 2,000 members, living both on and off reserve. Its traditional language is Babine-Witsuwit'en
Babine-Witsuwit'en
-External links:****** Note, however, that the Carrier-speaking region is marked incorrectly on this map and that Babine-Witsuwit'en is not indicated. The area around Babine Lake and Takla Lake, included in the Dakelh region on the map, is actually Babine speaking...
, a Northern Athabaskan language. It was initially created in December 1957 by legislation from the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada which amalgamated the Fort Babine and Old Fort Bands. It is currently at stage 4 of the British Columbia Treaty Negotiation Process.
Woyenne, with approximately 940 residents, is adjacent to the community of Burns Lake, British Columbia
Burns Lake, British Columbia
thumb|309px|right|Burns Lake's welcome signBurns Lake is a rural village in the North-Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada, incorporated in 1923...
, but has its own preschool, kindergarten, daycare, and adult learning centre. The Nation's main band office is located in Woyenne.
Wit'at (Fort Babine) has approximately 60 permanent residents, an elementary school, a health clinic, a water treatment plant and a satellite band office. Because the forced amalgamation in the 1950s, there has been a separation movement in the community of Wit'at. In fact, some people in this community will refer to themselves as "Wit'at Nation."
Tachek also has approximately 130 permanent residents, a satellite band office, a water treatment plant and a convenience store.
Further reading
- Patrick, Betty & Fiske, Jo-Anne, Cis Dideen Kat (When the Plumes Rise): The Way of the Lake Babine Nation (UBC Press, 2000).
External links
- BC Treaty Commission - Lake Babine Nation
- Official Homepage - Under Construction