Tatshenshini River
Tatshenshini River | |
---|---|
Location | |
Country | Canada |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | |
• location | Datlasaka Creek |
• coordinates | 59°50′30″N 136°39′38″W / 59.84167°N 136.66066°W |
• elevation | 910 m (2,990 ft) |
Mouth | |
• location | Alsek River |
• coordinates | 59°28′44″N 137°45′56″W / 59.47894°N 137.76555°W |
• elevation | 120 m (390 ft) |
The Tatshenshini River (
History
This river was used as a vital trade route by First Nations, in particular the coastal
About 1897, Jack Dalton established a trading post near the location where the present-day Tatshenini begins to flow westward. This trading post flourished during the
Etymology
Prior to 1891, the name Tatshenshini did not refer to the present-day Tatshenshini River. Instead, the name referred to the present-day Blanchard River, which is a tributary of the present-day Tatshenshini River, located about 10 miles (16 km) upstream from Dalton's trading post.[1] In 1891, or shortly thereafter, the Canadian government reassigned the name Tatshenshini from the present-day Blanchard River to the present-day Tatshenshini River.[2] Apparently, the government did this without knowledge of the English translation of tatshenshini.
The name Tatshenshini is derived from a Tlingit phrase, the meaning of which was not recorded.
The Tlingit phrase t’áchán shahéeni describes the present-day Blanchard River (pre-1891 Tatshenshini River). Chinook (king) salmon run up the present-day Tatshenshini River to the Blanchard River and, thence, up the Blanchard River.[6] At the headwaters (shahéen) of the Blanchard River, the salmon (t’á) die, and their carcasses stink (chán). These headwaters were on the old Tlingit trail and trade route between Haines, Alaska and Lake Kusawa, Yukon.[7]
See also
- List of rivers of British Columbia
- List of rivers of Yukon
- Tatshenshini-Alsek Park
- Alsek River
References
- ^ a b c Davidson, George (1995). The Kohklux Map. Yukon Historical & Museums Assn., at pp. 15, 18-19 (“All-segh'”; “Katch-kwae-wugh”; “Ta-tchan-seena”).
- ^ a b The Canadian government assigned the name Alsek to the present-day Alsek River in 1891. Coutts, Robert C. (2003). Yukon Places and Names, 2nd edition. Moose Creek Publishing., at page 19 (Alsek River). It is presumed that the Canadian government assigned the name Tatshenshini to the present-day Tatshenshini River at the same time. At the very latest, the change had occurred by 1898.
- Canadian Heritage River. "Tatshenshini River". Archived from the originalon 2008-01-21. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
- ^ Krause, Aurel (1956). The Tlingit Indians. University of Washington Press., at page 253 (Tatschants-hīni). (The original 1885 German edition at page 383, Tatschants-hīni)
- (Since a stink [chán] is always created by something, no possessed noun suffix is needed following chán.)
- ^ After the present-day Blanchard River lost the name Tatshenshini (presumably, in 1891) until 1915 (when it was assigned its present-day name), the Blanchard River was known as Bear Creek. (The Blanchard River was not known as Kleheela; Kleheela was a variant name for the Klehini River, which flows into the Chilkat River.) Annual Report of Inspector A. M. Javis at page 100, App. H., Part 3, Annual Report of North-west Mounted Police 1898, reproduced at, Sessional Papers Vol. 15, 8th Parliament, 4th Sess. (1899) (Kleheela River is south of summit and south of Rainy Hollow; salmon go up Bear Creek to spawn; present-day Tatshenshini River is referred to as “Alsac,” a variation of its original name).
- ISBN 978-0-912006-66-6., at page 214 (map: “Tatschanzhīni”).