Lake Babine Nation (also Nataotin, Nat'oot'en Nation) is a
Babine
{{Infobox ethnic group
, group=Nadot'en
, image=
, image_caption=
, poptime=
, popplace={{Flag, Canada ({{Flag, British Columbia)
, langs=English, Babine-Witsuwit'en
, rels=Christianity, Animism
, related= Wet'suwet'en, Dakelh
In its broader sen ...
band government
In Canada, an Indian band or band (french: bande indienne, link=no), sometimes referred to as a First Nation band (french: bande de la Première Nation, link=no) or simply a First Nation, is the basic unit of government for those peoples subjec ...
, historically located on the banks of
Babine Lake
Babine Lake ( ) or Na-taw-bun-kut ("Long 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. ...
in central British Columbia, Canada. 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 Tachet on the central part 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
Northern Athabaskan is a geographic sub-grouping of the Athabaskan language family spoken by indigenous peoples in the northern part of North America, particularly in Alaska (Alaskan Athabaskans), Yukon, and the Northwest Territories. The Nort ...
. 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
The British Columbia Treaty Process (BCTP) is a land claims negotiation process started in 1993 to resolve outstanding issues, including claims to un-extinguished indigenous rights, with British Columbia's First Nations.
Two treaties have be ...
.
Woyenne, with approximately 940 residents,
[Lake Babine Statement of Intent](_blank)
is adjacent to the community of
Burns Lake, British Columbia
Burns Lake is a rural village in the North-western-Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada, incorporated in 1923. The village had a population of 1,779 as of the 2016 Census.
The village is known for its rich First Nations heritage, an ...
, 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."
Tachet also has approximately 130 permanent residents,
a satellite band office, a water treatment plant and a convenience store.
Clans
The Lake Babine Nation has traditionally comprised four clans:
* Jilh tsekh xu (Frog)
* Likh c’ bu (Bear)
* Likh tsa mis xu (Beaver)
* Gilanton (Cariboo)
References
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada First Nation profile
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
- Lake Babine Nation
Official Homepage- Under Construction
{{Carrier First Nations
Babine
Dakelh governments
Omineca Country