Yekooche First Nation
Encyclopedia
Yekooche First Nation is based 75 kilometers northwest of Fort St. James, British Columbia
at the north end of Stuart Lake
on Yekooche reserves (about 380 hectares in size). It is known in English as Portage due to its location along the portage route between Babine Lake
and Stuart Lake
.
Yekooche is a small community reserve. As of March 2008, there are 217 band members of which 130 live on the Yekooche reserves. Near to Yekooche are Babine
, Cunningham
and Whitefish Lakes. These places are used to collect winter food for families.
The people of Yekooche are Dakelh
and speak the Stuart Lake dialect of the Carrier language
. Due to their proximity to Lake Babine territory, they have traditionally been bilingual in Babine-Witsuwit'en
.
for thousands of years. In fact, the Yekooche people's very name derrives from the area - Ye Koo refers to Yeko Bun (Cunningham Lake) and Che describes the tail end of Nankut Creek.
Yekooche First nation was one of the five communities that made up the Tl'azt'en Nation
band, from which it separated in 1994.
courses, and Kindergarten to grade seven. The school has teacherages to allow the 3 school teachers to reside in Yekooche during the week.
, it is part of Carrier Sekani Family Services,. Yekooche First Nation and CSFS have an agreement for the health programme, whereby CSFS provides Yekooche with healthcare services including a nurse, dental care practitioners, doctor appointments, travel money, workshops, clinic maintenance, etc.
.
. Many young families are forced to leave Yekooche in search of employment and education opportunities.
Fort St. James, British Columbia
Fort St. James is a district municipality and former fur trading post in north-central British Columbia, Canada. It is located on the south-eastern shore of Stuart Lake in the Omineca Country, at the northern terminus of Highway 27, which connects to Highway 16 at Vanderhoof...
at the north end of Stuart Lake
Stuart Lake
Stuart Lake, or Nak'albun in the Carrier language is a lake situated in the Northern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. The town of Fort St. James is situated by the lake near the outlet...
on Yekooche reserves (about 380 hectares in size). It is known in English as Portage due to its location along the portage route between Babine Lake
Babine Lake
Babine 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. It is long, wide, and has a net area of and a total area of...
and Stuart Lake
Stuart Lake
Stuart Lake, or Nak'albun in the Carrier language is a lake situated in the Northern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. The town of Fort St. James is situated by the lake near the outlet...
.
Yekooche is a small community reserve. As of March 2008, there are 217 band members of which 130 live on the Yekooche reserves. Near to Yekooche are Babine
Babine Lake
Babine 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. It is long, wide, and has a net area of and a total area of...
, Cunningham
Cunningham Lake
Cunningham Lake is situated approximately 91 km from Fort St. James, British Columbia via Lind Pit Lake road. Nankut Creek connects Cunningham to Stuart Lake....
and Whitefish Lakes. These places are used to collect winter food for families.
The people of Yekooche are Dakelh
Dakelh
The Dakelh or Carrier are the indigenous people of a large portion of the Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada.Most Carrier call themselves Dakelh, meaning "people who go around by boat"...
and speak the Stuart Lake dialect of the Carrier language
Carrier language
The Carrier language is a Northern Athabaskan language. It is named after the Dakelh people, a First Nations people of the Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada, for whom Carrier is the usual English name. People who are referred to as Carrier speak two related languages. One,...
. Due to their proximity to Lake Babine territory, they have traditionally been bilingual in Babine-Witsuwit'en
Babine-Witsuwit'en
-External links:****** Note, however, that the Carrier-speaking region is marked incorrectly on this map and that Babine-Witsuwit'en is not indicated. The area around Babine Lake and Takla Lake, included in the Dakelh region on the map, is actually Babine speaking...
.
History
Yekoochet'en people have lived in the region of Cunningham LakeCunningham Lake
Cunningham Lake is situated approximately 91 km from Fort St. James, British Columbia via Lind Pit Lake road. Nankut Creek connects Cunningham to Stuart Lake....
for thousands of years. In fact, the Yekooche people's very name derrives from the area - Ye Koo refers to Yeko Bun (Cunningham Lake) and Che describes the tail end of Nankut Creek.
Yekooche First nation was one of the five communities that made up the Tl'azt'en Nation
Tl'azt'en Nation
Tl'azt'en Nation is an Indian band located along the north shore of Stuart Lake in the northern interior of British Columbia. The two main villages belonging to Tl'azt'en Nation are Tache , 60 km northwest of Fort St. James and Binche , 40 km northwest of Fort St. James...
band, from which it separated in 1994.
Infrastructure
Yekooche First Nation has a band office, a health clinic, a resource house, a church, a graveyard, an elementary school, and about 50 houses. The Elementary school consists of the headstart program, adult basic education, Carrier languageCarrier language
The Carrier language is a Northern Athabaskan language. It is named after the Dakelh people, a First Nations people of the Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada, for whom Carrier is the usual English name. People who are referred to as Carrier speak two related languages. One,...
courses, and Kindergarten to grade seven. The school has teacherages to allow the 3 school teachers to reside in Yekooche during the week.
Carrier Sekani Family Services
Although Yekooche First Nation is not part of the Carrier Sekani Tribal CouncilCarrier Sekani Tribal Council
The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council is a tribal council representing eight First Nations in the Central Interior of British Columbia...
, it is part of Carrier Sekani Family Services,. Yekooche First Nation and CSFS have an agreement for the health programme, whereby CSFS provides Yekooche with healthcare services including a nurse, dental care practitioners, doctor appointments, travel money, workshops, clinic maintenance, etc.
Treaty Negotiations
Yekooche First Nation started its treaty negotiations in 1995. The treaty team negotiated an Agreement in Principle in 2005, which the Nation agreed to. Yekooche First Nation is currently in Stage 5 of the British Columbia Treaty ProcessBritish Columbia Treaty Process
The British Columbia Treaty Process is a land claims negotiation process started in 1993 to resolve outstanding issues - including claims to un-extinguished aboriginal rights - with British Columbia's First Nations....
.
Access
Yekooche First Nation can be reached by road, or by boat across Stuart Lake. An average water crossing takes 1.5 hours from Tache or 2.5 hours from Fort St. James.Economy
Yekooche First Nation's main economic development projects are the forestry program, health and education. Currently, the majority of people residing in Yekooche seek out social assistance programmes such as Work Opportunity Program, TESI and Basic NeedsBasic needs
The basic needs approach is one of the major approaches to the measurement of absolute poverty. It attempts to define the absolute minimum resources necessary for long-term physical well-being, usually in terms of consumption goods. The poverty line is then defined as the amount of income...
. Many young families are forced to leave Yekooche in search of employment and education opportunities.
External links
- BC Treaty Commission - Yekooche Nation