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The Lheidli T’enneh (historically known as the Fort George Indian Band) is a community that is built on and around the strength of its people. T’enneh literally means “The People”. They are a sub-group of the “Dakelh” people whose traditional territory includes the city of Prince George, British Columbia. The name “Lheidli” means “The People from the Confluence of the River” in the Carrier language, referring to how the Nechako River enters the Fraser River at Prince George. The rivers spoken of are the Nee Incha Koh which means “river with strong undercurrents” and the Ltha Koh, the Big Mouth River.

Carrier is a Northern Athabaskan language named after the Dakelh people. Although speakers are few, it is the native language of several First Nations people in and around the Central Interior of British Columbia, including Lheidli T’enneh.

Many of these languages are not recorded in text like common languages like English and were often taught and shared orally through fluent speakers, typically elders. It is extremely unfortunate that when these elders pass, whole dictionaries worth of knowledge risk disappearing as well. As such, they are instrumental in the recovery and documentation of written and spoken Indigenous languages, like Carrier. Specific organizations, like ‘Utsiyan inké ‘Utsoo, Lheidli’s Elder Society, help Lheidli support these endeavors in order to keep their particular dialect of Carrier alive which remains an important part of their history and culture.

Today the Carrier language is experiencing a resurgence due to the major contributions of elders to online dictionaries, multi-media resources, and ongoing language programs at the local schools, college, and university located on the Traditional Territory of Lheidli T’enneh.

(Source: “Our Story” and “Our Language”, Lheidli T’enneh First Nation Official Website. Date Accessed: 03/29/2023)

*The four spellings, Athabaskan, Athabascan, Athapaskan, and Athapascan, are in approximately equal use. Particular communities may prefer one spelling over another (Krauss 1987).