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Carrier customs/traditions
and value systems

Death and Funerals

All people were believed to have both a soul, butsen, and a spirit, or nowdnilh. The soul left the body when the person was sleeping, and the travels of the soul were remembered as dreams. When a person died the spirit left the body permanently. They believed that the spirit travelled to the land of the dead, where the spirits of other dead people resided. Certain rituals were performed after death. Favourite items of food and clothing were burnt to allow the spirit to have the provisions it needed to make the journey. The Carrier cremated their dead. When a married person died the relatives would chant a death song and the widow would hold the corpse in a final embrace until the heat and smoke drove her away. Gifts from other clans were tossed into the fire. A relative noted the gift and its bearer and a return of an equally important gift would be made at the funerals of their relatives. After the cremation the spouse gathered up the remaining bones and wrapped them in bark or skins. He or she then carried the bundle or stored it in a safe place, until the funeral ceremony was held a year or two later. The remains would then be re-wrapped and either buried or placed on top of a tree or carved memorial post. A feast would be held at the time of the second funeral.