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Revision as of 02:57, 22 September 2009 by Buffalo Robert (talk | contribs) (→Etymology)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) River| Tatshenshini River | |
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Mouth | Alsek River 59°28′44″N 137°45′56″W / 59.47894°N 137.76555°W / 59.47894; -137.76555 (Tatshenshini River mouth) |
| • elevation | Template:M to ft |
The Tatshenshini River (Shäwshe Chù in Southern Tutchone) is a river in the southwestern Yukon and the northwestern corner of British Columbia. It originates in British Columbia, near Haines Highway. It flows north into Yukon, then it turns west and south before it returns into British Columbia, where it flows through the Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Wilderness Park. There it joins the Alsek River, which then flows in the Pacific Ocean in Alaska. It is a very popular river for wilderness rafting trips.
History
Although this river was used as a vital trade route by First Nations, in particular the coastal Tlingit people, the first Europeans to travel the present-day Tatshenshini River were Jack Dalton and Edward Glave in 1890, accompanied by two native guides. Prior to 1891, the present-day Tatshenshini River was considered to be the upper Alsek River. (At that time, the present-day upper Alsek River was considered to be the lower Kaskawulsh River.) In or about 1891, the present-day Tatshenshini River (pre-1891 upper Alsek River) was assigned the name Tatshenshini by the Canadian government, and the pre-1891 lower Kaskawulsh River became the present-day upper Alsek River. 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 Klondike Gold Rush.
The Tatshenshini River was designated a Canadian Heritage River in 2004.
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 upstream from Dalton's trading post. In or about 1891, the Canadian government reassigned the name Tatshenshini from the present-day Blanchard River to the present-day Tatshenshini River. 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. However, the original phrase appears to have been t’áchán shahéeni, a compound Tlingit noun meaning river with stinking chinook (king) salmon at its headwaters (t’á + chán + sha + héen + i ).
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. At the headwaters (shahéen) of the Blanchard River, the salmon (t’á) die, and their carcasses stink (chán).
The Southern Tutchone name for the Tatshenshini River is Shäwshe Chù. This name is derived from the ancient Southern Tutchone village of Shäwshe, the site of which is located adjacent to Dalton's trading post. The literal meaning (if any) of Shäwshe is unknown. Chù is Southern Tutchone for water. The Tlingit name for the village of Shäwshe is Neskataheen. The literal meaning (if any) of Neskataheen is also unknown.
See also
References
- ^ Davidson, George (1995). The Kohklux Map. Yukon Historical & Museums Assn.
{{cite book}}: External link in|title= - ^ 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". Retrieved 2008-03-03.
- Krause, Aurel (1956). The Tlingit Indians. University of Washington Press., at page 253 (“Tatschants-hīni”). (Click here for the original 1885 German edition at page 383 )
- Twitchell, Lance A. (2005). Lingít Dictionary. Troubled Raven Productions., at pp. i (i=possessed noun suffix), 1-6 (chán), 1-24 (héen), 1-40 (shá), 1-44 (t’á), 2-27 (head of), 2-46 (river), 2-47 (chinook salmon), 2-56 (stink). (Since a stink is always created by something, no possessed noun suffix is needed following chán.)
- Warning: Bears are known to patrol the Blanchard River for running salmon. 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).
- Tlen, Daniel L. (1993). Kluane Southern Tutchone Glossary. Yukon College., at page 36 (water).
