Description
Dogrib, a group of North American First Nations people inhabiting the forested and barren-ground areas between the Great Bear and Great Slave lakes in the Northwest Territories, Canada. The name Dogrib is an English adaptation of their own name, Thlingchadinne, or Dog-Flank People, referring to their fabled descent from a supernatural dog-man. In the early 19th century, they were attacked by members of the Yellowknives band. But, in 1823 a massacre in retaliation of a Yellowknives group led by the leader Long Leg broke the threat. Fort Rae (1852), on the north arm of Great Slave Lake, was the first trading post established on the Dogrib lands. Dogrib began to be drawn into the fur trade around the beginning of the 19th century.
Language
The Tlicho language (or Dogrib) is a Dene language.
Culture
Extended kinship ties in society and culture have allowed for the easy movement of families from one band to another. From ancient times to the present, they have hunted the barren-ground caribou in the forest during winter and the barrens in spring, and again in the fall. Moose and hare, migratory waterfowl and fishhave also a food resource. In the tribe, hunting and generous concern for the group, wisdom, oratorical skills and "medicine" power (supernatural power granted through the aid of animal-spiritual beings) led to authority and leadership.