The Chipewyan Nation – Customs and Traditions
Chipewyan traditional life was shaped by subarctic woodlands, rather than flat, dry plains.
Survival for the Chipewyan meant coping with the harsh winters and fleeting summers of the north. A
deep and intimate knowledge of the boreal forest and the barren lands beyond was the foundation of
Chipewyan existence.
Food
To survive in the boreal forest, the Chipewyan lived by seasonal patterns of hunting, gathering,
trapping, and fishing. The prime prey of the Chipewyan was the barren lands caribou, which was a source
of food, clothing, shelter, and tools for them, in the same way that the plains bison served the plains
peoples, like the Cree. Hunting caribou demanded
that the Chipewyan live a semi-nomadic existence, following the seasonal migrations of the caribou.
Thus, winters were spent hunting caribou in the boreal forest, while summers were spent tracking the
caribou herds into the barren lands of the north. In the spring and autumn, large-scale hunts were
organized by Chipewyan bands to take advantage of large herd movements, gathering enough meat to last
for the year.
Aside from caribou, moose, deer, and elk also provided sources of meat. Trapping for meat and furs
to trade, served as a supplementary activity, with animals like beaver, fox, mink, muskrat, otter,
wolf, and lynx being sought after. Fishing for whitefish, trout, or pike was another summer activity,
as was the gathering of roots, berries, and other edible plants for additional nutrition.
Clothing
Caribou, moose, and rabbit hide were the primary sources for Chipewyan clothing. Chipewyan men
more breechcloths, belted leather skirts, and leggings. Women wore dresses with ankle-length skirts
and leggings. Clothing for both men and women could be painted with various pigments. Moccasins and
snowshoes were designed and used for winter travel.
Shelter
The traditional shelter for the Chipewyan was a conical tipi consisting of a basic pole
structure covered with thick hides to keep the inside well insulated in the cold. The average tipi could
house eight to ten individuals, and would require numerous caribou hides, sometimes up to sixty or
more, to cover it.
Sources:
Malinowski, Sharon and Anna Sheets, eds., “Chipewyan.”
The Gale Encyclopedia of North American
Tribes, Vol. III. Detroit: Gale Research, 1998.
Smith, James G.E. “Chipewyan,” in DeMallie, Raymond J. Handbook of North American Indians, Volume 6.
Washington: Smithsonian Institution, 2001.