Khaii Luk Tshik (Travaillant Creek)
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G Gwich'in Social & Cultural Institute Fort McPherson, NWT Nomination Form for Territorial Historic Sites Khaii Luk Tshik (Travaillant Creek) George Cummings, William Clark, Beth Clark, Dale Clark (rabbit skin snowsuit), Winnie Clark. Photo credit: Dale and Rose Clark. Khaii Luk Tshik. Photo credit: K Benson, GSCI MANDATORY INFORMATION What is the name of the site you are nominating? Khaii Luk Tshik is the traditional Gwich'in name for the area around the outlet of Travaillant Creek1 where it enters the Mackenzie River. When people say Travaillant River or Travaillant Creek, they are generally referring to this location rather than the whole creek. It was a small traders camp and community known for its large gardens and strategic location to numerous important old-time trails connecting hunting, fishing, and trapping areas to the Mackenzie River. Does the site have a story? If so, what is it? Khaii Luk Tshik is centered in the cultural and physical landscape of the Gwichya Gwich’in (now residing largely in Tsiigehtchic, NWT). Located along Nagwichoonjik – the Mackenzie River – the site has seen mythical giants and medicine men moving by its shores, been passed by countless generations of Gwich’in heading out hunting, fishing, and gathering berries, watched the earliest trappers and traders travel by foot and dog sled, been visited by early explorers, housed a small trading community complete with large sub-Arctic gardens, seen the influx of Europeans to the area and acted as a trail-head for Gwich’in travelling towards Khaii Luk – Travaillant Lake, an important fishing area. The trading post in the area was occupied from around 1927 to the mid-1950s. Originally, only the east shore was occupied, although there were trading posts on both sides of the mouth of Travaillant River during the later years. During the years it was a trading post, it was the main commercial centre for the area, being an important fall stop-over place. Today this location is an important stop for river travelers in the summer. In the late 1990s Peter Clark and Maureen Clark of Tsiigehtchic put up a structure that can be used as an emergency shelter. Geographic Setting Khaii Luk Tshik is located on the right shore of the Mackenzie River, about 120 km (75 miles) up the Mackenzie from Tsiigehtchic. It is at the mouth of the creek draining Khaii Luk (Travaillant Lake) and its watershed. The river comes from Khaii Luk, a large lake also known as Travaillant Lake. The creek exits Khaii Luk at a place called Teedhaa Khaii Luk Tshik from the Mackenzie River in the fall. Photo credit: GRRB (meaning ‘air hole’ – indicating the outlet does not freeze all winter and there is 1 Travaillant is locally pronounced “TRA‐vee‐er” 1 open water). Teedhaa, and other areas along Travaillant River that are open all winter, are fishing locations. The river empties into Andrew Lake, a fish lake, and flows by, passing another fish Gwich’in Place Names lake called Gugwijaanaii (meaning ‘it broke through’). The river around Khaii Luk Tshik flows to the east and back west again along a U-shaped Khaii Luk – Travaillant Lake. trajectory and joins with a small creek draining Big Lake and Name translates as ‘winter fish’ Sucker Lake – both known for muskrats and suckers – before and refers to an important food exiting into the Mackenzie River at Khaii Luk Tshik. resource used by the Gwich’in: fish available in the fall and winter in Cultural Setting the thousands. See map, page five. Ts’ii deį į ̨ time – the earliest days of the land Several great leaders and travellers from Gwich’in legends and Khaii Luk Tshik – Mouth of stories travelled up and down the Mackenzie River in pursuit of Travaillant River where it meets battle or adventure. For example, Atachuukąįį was a great the Mackenzie River. Translates as Gwich’in leader during Ts’ii dęįį times – “He’s a big man. ‘The mouth of winterfish [lake] Maybe 15 feet high.”2 There are numerous accounts of his travel creek’ and ability as a warrior. At one time, a giant named Ch’ii Choo Nagwichoonjik – The Mackenzie was chasing Atachuukąįį from Fort Yukon in what is now the River. Translates as ‘Big Country Yukon Territory all the way up the Mackenzie River past the River.’ Ramparts near Fort Good Hope. The landscape still bears the evidence of his journey – giant footsteps filled as lakes, a large Gwich’in Words used in island is an overturned canoe left by Atachuukąįį. this document Prehistoric time Gwichya Gwich’in – refers to the Khaii Luk Tshik was used by the Gwich’in for thousands of Gwich’in now residing largely in years before it became a trading post. The site has always been the community of Tsiigehtchic. an important trail head and fall stop-over place. Before the Fur Trade, the Khaii Luk Gwich’in (refers to people who wintered at Khaii Luk Gwich’in – refers to a Travaillant Lake) travelled to the bountiful lakes in the Khaii historic group of Gwich’in who overwintered in the area around Luk watershed to overwinter. When travelling to Khaii Luk and Khaii Luk. other areas to the north of the Mackenzie River, some travellers would leave the Mackenzie River here and travel inland along Ts’ii dęįį refers to a time far in the well-established trails (see Figure 3). They travelled from past when people and animals had various summer camps to the area on foot as many people did special powers, were equal and not have dogs for packing or pulling until the fur trade days. could communicate freely. Legendary travelers and The families living at the many lakes in the Khaii Luk region adventurers lived during these relied mainly on fish for their survival. This fact influenced the times. way of life of the Khaii Luk Gwich'in: Families who were able to catch enough fish in the same area over an extended period of time, did not need to travel on the land as much. Even the kinds of winter shelters used by many ts'ii deii families living here, show that this was so. Unlike the skin tents used in the 2 Gabe Andre, Tape 1, July 29, 2008, Khaii Luk Tshik Nomination Project 2 Caribou or moose leg skin sleds mountains up the Arctic Red [River], the houses used around the Khaii Luk area Caribou or moose leg skin sleds were were not intended to be taken along at traditionally used by Gwich’in to pack all. The families who built them meant to belongings during winter travel. Not as big as stay in one and the same place for some toboggans, they were often pulled by people time (Heine et al 2007: 130‐1). rather than dogs. These sleds were generally about six to eight feet in length. Boats that were tracked (pulled) up the Mackenzie River with long ropes would be The leg skin sleds were constructed with the left at Khaii Luk Tshik as travellers left the hair‐side out, which was extremely slippery on Mackenzie River and headed to their winter the ice and snow. The main body was made of camps. Pack dogs, when available, were leg skins sewn together. The rim of the sled loaded with supplies and equipment. Gabe was made of tanned moose skin. The lacing at Andre remembers hearing stories of his the rim of the sled and the bag strap were grandmother, named Shinaghan Shoh (Old made of raw cleaned caribou skin. The rope on Bear Woman) tracking a boat up the Mackenzie River from Tsiigehtchic to Fort the sled wrapper was made of braided Good Hope barefoot.3 babiche. People packed belongings in these sleds, and sometimes people rode in them. During winter, the Gwich’in pulled sleds by Kids enjoyed taking them sliding when empty, hand when travelling with a load. Among though parents discouraged this because it other types, they probably used moose leg hastened the hair wearing off! skin or caribou leg skin sleds in the winters – these sleds were very slippery and easy to pull across the snow (see box, this page). For more information on the trails used by the Gwich’in, see the section on trails, below. Six recorded archaeological sites are within the immediate area around the mouth of the river. These sites include the actual trading post area itself, Big Hyacinthe’s grave, the cabins where George Hurst lived, and several other sites. The sites are generally historic Photo: Miniature replica of caribou leg skin sled but some prehistoric features have been made by Robert Francis. identified. The sites are characterized by depressions in the ground, caches, animal Text: adapted from Lyons, 2007. bones, tools, religious items, hearths, tent clearings, foundations, cabins, and other artefacts and features. 3 Gabe Andre Tape 1, July 29, 2008, Khaii Luk Tshik Nomination Project 3 Figure 1. Select names places around Khaii Luk Tshik 4 Historical time Alexander Mackenzie arrived into Gwichya Gwich’in territory in July 1789, preceding the advent of the fur trade by several years. The fur trade marked a shift in the lifestyle of the Gwichya Gwich’in. Although they still relied upon the land and their knowledge of it for their livelihood, they now participated in a barter economy. The use of dog teams for travel assumed a great importance and the use of sugar, flour, tea, tobacco, copper pots, and other non-traditional goods became integrated into the Gwichya Gwich’in lifestyle (Heine et al 2007). The earliest direct fur trade in Gwichya Gwich’in territory was at Khaii Luk Tshik.