Home · Culture & Social · Languages

Languages

The language of the Carrier people is that of the Northern Athapaskan language family. This language is spoken across the whole northern area of Canada from Alaska to the Hudson’s Bay. There are five major groups of Athapaskan people: the Tahltan, the Kaska, the Sekani and the Carrier. Throughout the country there are many different dialects of this language. Fortunately most are close enough to the other that they can understand each other.

Story as told by Doreen Patrick

Before our Carrier alphabet was developed a few of the elders were taught to read the syllabics taught by Father Morice. Our people had a prayer book in syllabics and grave markers had syllabics written on them. I also found writing on a tree in syllabics at Kluskus. Some of our elders knew how to sign their names. I remember my mother telling me a merchant Paul Krestenuk taught her to print her name and that is how she signed her checks.

It has only been a few years since the Carrier language has been developed. Linguists Richard and Shirley Walker and Dave and Kay Wilkinson developed the alphabet and curriculum in the north and we later put the same material into our own dialect. There are very few people in our area who know how to read and write the Carrier language. A few of us, who could go, went to theYinka Dene Institute through CNC at Vanderhoof to learn how read and write the language.

The four Southern Carrier bands of this area belong to a vast area of the Athapaskan language group of Northern British Columbia. The languages are closely tied to the culture and to the land. The place names have to do with recording the event that took place there. For example, Lhtakoh – where three rivers meet, the Quesnel River, the Fraser River, and the Baker River, this is the name of Red Bluff. The Athapaskan language stems from three geographical areas.

Some other northern language groups are Chilcotin, Sekani, Tahltan, Kaska, Slave and Beaver. Two other Athapaskan languages in British Columbia have died. The Tsetsaut which was spoken along the Portland Channel, and in the Nicola Valley. There are also two other Athapaskan language group in the United States: Navajo and Western Apache. I know that we can understand each other when we speak our Dakelh language with other Athapaskan languages. I am also aware of an area where the Athapaskan language died and only a few speakers are left who can speak it. It is on the Pacific Coast from northern California to southern Washington. Athapaskan languages are also spoken in Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.

We have 18 different dialects in our Northern British Columbia language group and these areas are:
‘Ulkatcho
Ndazkoh
Lhoosk’uz
Lhtakoh
Saik’uz
Stellakoh
Nak’azdli
Babine
Lheidli
Cheslatta
Nitaibun
Yukooche
Nadleh

These bands have had their names changed because our non-native friends couldn’t spell and pronounce the names properly.
Nazko – the correct name is Ndazkoh – Ndaz – meaning from the south and koh – Meaning River. (The river coming from the south).
Kluskus – the correct name is Lhoosk’uz – Lhooz – meaning white fish and k’uz – meaning half/side of. (Half or side of the white fish is white).
Red Bluff – the correct name is Lhtakoh – Lhta – where three meet and koh – meaning river. (Where the three rivers meet).
Anahim Lake – the correct name is ‘Ulkatcho – (meaning the fat of the land)

Many names of places have been changed because the non-native was not able to pronounce the names in the correct Carrier pronunciation. Lhoosk’uz is not the true name of where the reserve is now located, the name is supposed to be ‘Uskai Talbun Tl’at – meaning “where the blood flows into the lake”. I do believe that the last names of some people have also been changed because they could not be pronounced correctly.