1. BC First Nations Studies – Chapter 1
The Northeast

2. The Northeast - Introduction

3. The Northeast – Introduction cont’d
This area is separated from the rest of the province by the Rocky Mountains
It’s landscape has more in common with the prairies or the Northwest Territories than the rest of BC
Comprised of three landscapes:
Rocky Mountain Foothills
Muskeg of the north (a ‘boggy’ soil)
Prairies of the east
Two different ecosystems: Boreal plains and Boreal Taiga (forest)

4. The Northeast – Introduction Cont’d
The climate ranges from -20°celcius in the winter to +50°celcius in the summer
In the more northern regions the temperatures can be much more extreme between summer and winter.
The major river of the area is the Peace River

5. The Northeast – Introduction Cont’d

6. The Northeast - Resources
The rivers drain into the arctic and do not have the large fish such as the Salmon like the rivers that drain into the Pacific Ocean, but there are smaller varieties like trout and northern pike
The people here relied on the large mammals mentioned earlier, and this area has the greatest density of Moose in the world
Wood Bison once existed on the plains in great number before they were overhunted by Europeans.

7. The Northeast – The People
The people here are in the ATHAPASKAN language family which was spoken from Alaska to the Southwest United States
Why would there be such a large geographic area for this language family?
The Dunne-za lived in the region between the Liard river and the Peace river
They would also hunt rabbits, beaver, bear, muskrats and marmots for fur and food as well as the larger mammals. They would also hunt birds.
Berries like chokecherries, huckleberries and Saskatoon were harvested too along with some roots.
The Dunne-za were very mobile people?
Why would this be? Thing resources and climate.

8. The Northeast – The People