Babine
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| British Columbia,Canada | |
| Languages | |
| English,Babine-Witsuwitʼen | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity,Animism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| OtherDene EspeciallyTsilhqotʼin,Dakelh,andWetʼsuwetʼen |
In its broader sense,Babine(sometimes spelledBabeenin older English-language texts) refers to theFirst Nationspeoples who speak the Babine dialect of theBabine-Witsuwitʼen language,part of theAthabaskan languagefamily, in the vicinity of theBabine River,Babine Lake,Trembleur Lake,andTakla Lakein the central interior ofBritish Columbia,Canada.
In its narrower sense, Babine refers to the subset of Babine speakers who belong to theLake Babine Nation,a band comprising three main communities:
- Fort Babine(traditional name: Wit'at, approx. 100 full-time residents);
- Tachet (approx. 100 full-time residents);
- and Woyenne (next to the village of Burns Lake, approx. 800 residents).
The term Babine is of French origin, meaning "lippy", because when first encountered byfur traders.Babine women worelabrets.Although perceived by some as disparaging, the band prefers to use the name "Lake Babine Nation" because it emphasizes the connection of the people to their traditional territory around Babine Lake. Other ethnonyms associated with the Babine in historical literature incorrectly includeChemesyanorChimpseyan,which is an archaic term used for allTsimshianic speakingpeoples, usually theTsimshian.
The Babine is located in theSkeena Riverwatershed.
Bibliography
[edit]- Cis Dideen Kat: the Way of the Lake Babine Nation,Jo-Anne Fiske and Betty Patrick,Vancouver:UBC Press, 2000.