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59-482: Gwichʼin are well-known for their crafting of snowshoes , birchbark canoes , and the two-way sled . They are renowned for their intricate and ornate beadwork . They also continue to make traditional caribou-skin clothing and porcupine quillwork embroidery, both of which are highly regarded among Gwichʼin. Today, the Gwich’in economy consists mostly of hunting, fishing, and seasonal wage-paying employment . Their name

118-419: A hardwood frame filled in with rawhide latticework . Modern snowshoes are made of lightweight metal, plastic, and other synthetic materials. In the past, snowshoes were essential equipment for anyone dependent on travel in deep and frequent snowfall, such as fur trappers . They retain that role in areas where motorized vehicles cannot reach or are inconvenient to use. However, their greatest contemporary use

177-802: A highly developed ethnic cuisine." Yidįįłtoo are the traditional face tattoos of the Hän Gwich’in. In 2002, Gwichʼin Social and Cultural Institute , the Aurora Research Institute , and Parks Canada co-published a book entitled Gwichʼin Ethnobotany: Plants Used by the Gwichʼin for Food, Medicine, Shelter and Tools in collaboration with elders, in which they described dozens of trees, shrubs, woody plants, berry plants, vascular plants, mosses and lichens, and fungi that

236-578: A lesser degree, it is for children of people who are outside of the clan system. Over 6,000 Gwichʼin live in 15 small communities in northern parts of the Northwest Territories and the Yukon Territory of Canada , and in northern Alaska . The Gwichʼin communities are: The Gwichʼin have a strong oral tradition of storytelling that has only recently begun to be written in the modern orthography. Gwichʼin folk stories include

295-501: A lighter pair of racing shoes can be slightly narrower and 25 inches (64 cm) or shorter. Regardless of configuration, all wooden shoes are referred to as "traditional" and all shoes made of other materials are called "modern". Notwithstanding these variations in planned use, larger users should plan on buying larger snowshoes. A common formula is that for every pound of body weight, there should be one square inch of snowshoe surface (14.5 cm /kg) per snowshoe to adequately support

354-400: A single piece. One common style is termed the "H" binding, as it consists of a strap around the heel crossing a strap around the toe and one at the instep, forming a rough version of the eponymous letter. On modern shoes, there are two styles of binding: fixed-rotation (also known as "limited-rotation") bindings, and full-rotation (also known as "pivot") bindings. With either binding system,

413-588: A younger associate developed the step-in binding, designed to make it easier for snowshoers wearing hard-shelled plastic boots (serious mountaineers) to change from snowshoes to crampons and back again as needed. Snowshoers often use trekking poles as an accessory to help them keep their balance on the snow. Some manufacturers have begun making special snowshoeing models of their poles, with larger baskets more like those found on ski poles (which can also be used). Sahneuti Sahneuti (also spelled Shahnyaati, Sahnyateh, Sanytyi, Senati, Sinate ), died c. 1900

472-568: Is cheaper to make. However, this may reduce the floatation and let the shoes sink in powder. Outside of Indigenous populations and some competitions such as the Arctic Winter Games , very few of the old-fashioned snowshoes are actually used by enthusiasts anymore, although some value them for the artisanship involved in their construction. They are sometimes seen as decorations, mounted on walls or on mantels in ski lodges. Even though many enthusiasts prefer aluminum snowshoes, there

531-769: Is for recreation. Snowshoeing is easy to learn and in appropriate conditions is a relatively safe and inexpensive recreational activity. However, doing so in icy, steep terrain requires both advanced skill and mountaineering-style pivoting-crampon snowshoes. Before people built snowshoes, nature provided examples. Several animals, most notably the snowshoe hare , had evolved over the years with oversized feet enabling them to move more quickly through deep snow. The origin and age of snowshoes are not precisely known, although historians believe they were invented from 4,000 to 6,000 years ago, probably starting in Central Asia . British archaeologist Jacqui Wood hypothesized that

590-687: Is recognized as the Second Traditional Chief of all of the Athabascan tribes in Interior Alaska through the non-profit Tanana Chiefs Conference . The Takudh Bible is a translation of the entire King James Bible into Gwichʼin. The Takudh Bible is in a century-old orthography that is not very accurate, and thus hard to read. In the 1960s Richard Mueller designed a new orthography for Gwichʼin, which has now become standard. On 4 April 1975, Canada Post issued two stamps in

649-562: Is sometimes spelled Kutchin or Gwitchin and translates as "one who dwells" or "resident of [a region]." Historically, the French called the Gwichʼin Loucheux ("squinters"), as well as Tukudh or Takudh , a term also used by Anglican missionaries . Sometimes, these terms may refer (explicitly or implicitly) to particular dialects of the Gwichʼin language (or to the communities that speak them). Gwichʼin often refer to themselves by

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708-480: Is still a large group of snowshoe enthusiasts who prefer wooden snowshoes. Wooden frames do not freeze as readily. Many enthusiasts also prefer wood snowshoes because they are very quiet. While recreational use of snowshoes began with snowshoe clubs in Quebec , Canada (who held events where races and hikes were combined with fine food and drink), the manufacture of snowshoes for recreational purposes effectively began in

767-542: The Alaska Commercial Company put him in charge of their trade at Fort Yukon. Nevertheless, he kept good relations with the Hudson's Bay Company, playing off the two companies to ensure maximum advantage for his people. He is the namesake of Senati, Alaska ( 65°15′58″N 151°10′59″W  /  65.266°N 151.183°W  / 65.266; -151.183 ), an area of the middle Yukon River that

826-677: The Canadian Bank Note Company . Caribou is traditionally a major component of their diet. Many Gwichʼin people are dependent on the Porcupine caribou which herd calves on the coastal plain in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Gwichʼin people have been very active in protesting and lobbying against the possibility of oil drilling in ANWR , due to fears that oil drilling will deplete

885-402: The heel is left free, and the difference is in how the ball of the foot is attached to the snowshoe. In fixed-rotation bindings, the binding is attached to the snowshoe with an elastic strap that brings the tail of the snowshoe up with each step. The snowshoe therefore moves with the foot and the tail does not drag. Fixed-rotation bindings are preferred for racing. Full-rotation bindings allow

944-847: The tundra , where snow does not pile up deeply. Southward the shoe becomes gradually narrower and longer, one of the largest being the hunting snowshoe of the Cree , which is nearly 6 ft (1.8 m) long and turned up at the toe. Athapaskan snowshoes are made for travelling quickly on dry powder over flat, open land in Alaska and the Canadian northwest. They were used for keeping up with dog sleds , and breaking trail for them. They can be over 7 ft (2.1 m) long, and are narrow with an upturned toe. Ojibwa snowshoes were designed for manuverability, and are pointed at both ends, making it easier to step backwards. They are also easier to construct, as

1003-512: The "Denali" model made by Mountain Safety Research , use no metal frame and can be fitted with optional detachable tail extenders. Newer models have heel-lifters, called "ascenders", that flip up to facilitate hill climbing. The use of solid decking in place of the standard latticework of lacing came as a surprise to many enthusiasts, since it challenged a long-held belief that the lattice was necessary to prevent snow from accumulating on

1062-523: The "Vazaagiitsak cycle" (literally, "His Younger Brother Became Snagged"), which focuses on the comical adventures of a Gwichʼin misfit who, among other things, battles lice on a giant's head, plays the fool to the cunning fox, and eats the scab from his own anus unknowingly. Gwichʼin comedies often contain bawdy humor. Other major characters from the Gwichʼin oral tradition include: Googhwaii, Ool Ti’, Tł’oo Thal, K’aiheenjik, K’iizhazhal, and Shaanyaati’. Numerous folk tales about prehistoric times all begin with

1121-584: The Americas culture developed its own particular shape of shoe, the simplest being those of the far north. The Inuit have two styles, one being triangular in shape and about 18 inches (46 cm) in length, and the other almost circular, both reflecting the need for high flotation in deep, loose and powdery snow. However, contrary to popular perception, the Inuit did not use their snowshoes much since they did most of their foot travel in winter over sea ice or on

1180-600: The British took to snowshoes and pursued the attackers for almost 50 miles (80 km), ultimately recovering both people and goods taken by their attackers. Snowshoes became popular by the time of the French and Indian Wars , during engagements such as The Battle on Snowshoes , when combatants of both sides wore snowshoes atop a reported four feet (1.22 meters) of snow. The "teardrop" snowshoes worn by lumberjacks are about 40 inches (1.0 m) long and broad in proportion, while

1239-629: The Gwichʼin creation story of how Gwichʼin people and the caribou separated from a single entity. There is a stable population of woodland caribou throughout a large portion of the Gwichʼin Settlement Area and woodland caribou are an important food source for Gwichʼin although they harvest them less than other caribou . Gwichʼin living in Inuvik , Aklavik , Fort McPherson , and Tsiigehtchic harvest woodland caribou but not as much as other caribou. The Gwichʼin prefer to hunt Porcupine caribou or

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1298-491: The Gwichʼin used. Examples included black spruce Picea mariana and white spruce Picea glauca , Ts’iivii which was used as "food, medicine, shelter, fuel and tools." Boiled cones and branches were used to prevent and to treat colds. The introduction of Christianity in the 1840s throughout Gwichʼin territory produced spiritual changes that are still widely in effect today. Widespread conversion to Christianity, as influenced by Anglican and Catholic missionaries, led to these as

1357-654: The Huron, Cree, and so forth. Samuel de Champlain wrote, referencing the Huron and Algonquin First Nations, in his travel memoirs (V.III, p. 164), "Winter, when there is much snow, they (the Indians) make a kind of snowshoe that are two to three times larger than those in France, that they tie to their feet, and thus go on the snow, without sinking into it, otherwise they would not be able to hunt or go from one location to

1416-633: The Indians of Canada, Indians of the Subarctic series both designed by Georges Beaupré. One was Ceremonial Dress based on a painting by Lewis Parker of "a ceremonial costume of the Kutchin tribe" (Gwichʼin people). The other, Dance of the Kutcha-Kutchin was based on a painting by Alexander Hunter Murray The 8¢ stamps are perforated 12.5 and 13.5 and were printed by Ashton-Potter Limited and

1475-762: The Porcupine Herd, Gwich-'in Culture, and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge , Sarah James is cited as saying, "We are the caribou people. Caribou are not just what we eat; they are who we are. They are in our stories and songs and the whole way we see the world. Caribou are our life. Without caribou we wouldn't exist." Traditionally, their tents and most of their clothing were made out of caribou skin, and they lived "mostly on caribou and all other wild meats." Caribou fur skins were placed on top of spruce branches as bedding and flooring. Soap

1534-643: The United States "released a draft environmental impact study proposal for the lease sale with a public comment period until February 11, 2019. Environment Canada wrote in a letter to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Alaska office, that "Canada is concerned about the potential transboundary impacts of oil and gas exploration and development planned for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Coastal Plain." For similar reasons, Gwichʼin also actively protested

1593-506: The barren-ground Blue Nose herd, who travel in large herds, when they are available. Many hunters claimed that woodland caribou that form very small groups, are wilder, both hard to see and hard to hunt. They are very smart, cunning, and elusive. The caribou vadzaih is the cultural symbol and a keystone subsistence species of the Gwichʼin, just as the buffalo is to the Plains Indians. In his book entitled Caribou Rising: Defending

1652-596: The colder months as they are on warm summer weekends. Some modern frames are a vertical edge instead of a tube, making the entire edge of the snowshoe a crampon. As many winter recreationists rediscover snowshoeing, many more new models of snowshoe are becoming available. Ski areas and outdoor equipment stores are offering snowshoes for rent . Snowshoes today are divided into three types: Sizes are often given in inches, even though snowshoes are nowhere near perfectly rectangular . Mountaineering shoes can be at least 30 inches (76 cm) long by 10 inches (25 cm) wide;

1711-490: The creation of inflatable snowshoes made of different fabrics such as cordura and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) . These more athletic designs have helped the sport enjoy a renaissance after a period of eclipse when winter recreationists showed more interest in skiing. In the U.S., the number of snowshoers tripled during the 1990s. In fact, ski resorts with available land are beginning to offer snowshoe trails to visitors, and some popular hiking areas are almost as busy in

1770-673: The development of oil in the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge , and a proposed land trade from the United States National Wildlife Refuge System and Doyon, Limited . Snowshoe Snowshoes are specialized outdoor gear for walking over snow . Their large footprint spreads the user's weight out and allows them to travel largely on top of rather than through snow. Adjustable bindings attach them to appropriate winter footwear. Traditional snowshoes have

1829-556: The ends and supported in the middle by a light cross-bar. The space within the frame is filled with a close webbing of dressed caribou or neat's-hide strips, leaving a small opening just behind the cross-bar for the toe of the moccasined foot. They are fastened to the moccasin by leather thongs, sometimes by buckles . Such shoes are still made and sold by native peoples. Compared to modern Indigenous-made snowshoes, wood-and-rawhide snowshoes mass-produced by Europeans tend to have looser, simpler webbing, with wider rawhide strips, as this

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1888-559: The equipment interpreted to be the frame of a backpack of the Chalcolithic mummy Ötzi was actually part of a snowshoe. Strabo wrote that the inhabitants of the Caucasus used to attach flat surfaces of leather under their feet and that its inhabitants used round wooden surfaces, something akin to blocks, instead. However, the "traditional" webbed snowshoe as used today had direct origins to North American Indigenous people, e.g.,

1947-489: The foot to the snowshoe. Some styles of binding use a cup for the toe. It is important that a user be able to manipulate these straps easily, as removing or securing the foot often must be done outdoors in cold weather with bare hands, exposing him or her to the possibility of frostbite . When putting on snowshoes, left is distinguished from right by which way the loose ends of the binding straps point: always outward, to avoid stepping on them repeatedly. In 1994, Bill Torres and

2006-544: The language and to enhance the writing and translation skills of younger Gwichʼin speakers. In one project lead research associate and fluent speaker Gwichʼin elder, Kenneth Frank, works with linguists which include young Gwichʼin speakers affiliated with the Alaska Native Language Center at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks , to document traditional knowledge of caribou anatomy. Analysis of

2065-529: The late 17th century to trap animals and trade goods. In order to travel effectively in the terrain and climate, they utilized the tools of the Native populations, such as snowshoes and canoes. The Oxford English Dictionary reports the term "snowshoe" being used by the English as early as 1674. In 1690, after a French-Indian raiding party attacked a British settlement near what is today Schenectady, New York ,

2124-729: The late 19th century, when serious recreational use became more widespread. In the late 20th century the snowshoe underwent a radical redesign. It started in the 1950s when the Vermont -based Tubbs company created the Green Mountain Bearpaw, which combined the shortness of that style with an even narrower width than had previously been used ( Pospisil 1979 ). This rapidly became one of the most popular snowshoes of its day. In 1972, experimenting with new designs in Washington 's Cascade Mountains , Gene and Bill Prater created

2183-460: The local snowshoes worn by his travelling companions; he judged the skis faster in some conditions and the snowshoes faster in others. North-American-type snowshoes were slowly adopted by Europeans during early colonialism in what later became Canada and the United States. The French voyageurs and coureurs des bois began to travel throughout the land of the Cree, Huron, and Algonquin nations in

2242-473: The middle and rather cumbersome, they did have the advantage of being easier to pack and nimbler in tight spaces. Two forms of traditional bearpaw snowshoes developed: an eastern version used by "spruce gummers" consisting of an oval frame with wooden cross braces, and a western version with a rounded triangular frame and no wooden bracing. Traditional snowshoes are made of a single strip of some tough wood, usually white ash , curved round and fastened together at

2301-541: The need for maneuverability in forested areas. The Bearpaw style was widely used in the dense forests of Quebec and Labrador . It has no tail, and turns easily. The Plains Indians wore snowshoes on their winter season bison hunts before horses were introduced. In 2016, "the oldest [extant] snowshoe in the world", found in a melting glacier in the Dolomites in Italy, was dated to between 3800 and 3700 BCE. It

2360-845: The northern Yukon have approximately the same dialect as those bands living in Venetie and Arctic Village, Alaska . Approximately 300 Alaskan Gwichʼin speak their language, according to the Alaska Native Language Center . However, according to the UNESCO Interactive Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger, Gwichʼin is now a "severely endangered" language, with fewer than 150 fluent speakers in Alaska and another 250 in northwest Canada. Innovative language revitalization projects are underway to document

2419-493: The other". The Indigenous peoples of North America developed the most advanced and diverse snowshoes prior to the 20th century. Different shapes were adapted to the different conditions in each region. Despite their great diversity in form, snowshoes were, in fact, one of the few cultural elements common to all tribes that lived where the winters were snowy, in particular, the Northern regions. Nearly every Indigenous peoples of

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2478-488: The outer frame is made in two pieces. Huron snowshoes are tailheavy, which means they track well but do not turn easily. They are broad enough that the maximum width has to be tucked against the tail of the other snowshoe with each step, or the straddle will be too wide for the wearer. They are also meant for open country, and can carry heavy loads. Snowshoes developed by the Iroquois are narrower and shorter, reflecting

2537-447: The phrase Deenaadai’ , which translates roughly as "In the ancient days". This is usually followed with the admission that this was "when all of the people could talk to the animals, and all of the animals could speak with the people". These stories are often parables, which suggest a proper protocol, or code of behavior for Gwichʼin. Equality, generosity, hard work, kindness, mercy, cooperation for mutual success, and just revenge are often

2596-628: The population of the Porcupine Caribou herd. Bobbi Jo Greenland Morgan , who is head of the Gwichʼin Tribal Council , along with the Canadian government, the Yukon and Northwest territories and other First Nations, expressed concerns to the United States about the proposed lease sale in the calving grounds of a large cross-border Porcupine caribou herd to energy drilling, despite international agreements to protect it." In December,

2655-432: The shoe. In practice, however, it seems that very little snow comes through the openings in either type of shoe. Neoprene/nylon decks also displayed superior water resistance, neither stretching as rawhide will when wet nor requiring annual treatment with spar varnish , features that were immediately appreciated. Eventually they were replaced with even lighter materials such as polypropylene . This tendency also gave way to

2714-485: The snowshoe known today. They began using aluminum tubing and replaced the lace with neoprene and nylon decking. To make them easier to use in mountaineering , the Praters developed a hinged binding and added cleats to the bottom of the shoe. The Sherpa Snowshoe company started manufacturing these " Western " shoes and they proved very popular. Eastern snowshoers were a bit more skeptical at first, believing that

2773-408: The style was unnecessary in the east, until the Praters demonstrated their improved effectiveness on New Hampshire 's Mount Washington . These use an aluminum or stainless steel frame and take advantage of technical advances in plastics and injection molding to make a lighter and more durable shoe. They require little maintenance, and usually incorporate aggressive crampons . Some, such as

2832-471: The teardrop to about 40 inches (100 cm) long and 15 to 18 inches (380 to 460 mm) broad, slightly turned up at the toe and terminating in a kind of tail behind. This is made very light for racing purposes, but much stouter for touring or hunting. The tail keeps the shoe straight while walking. Another variant, the "bearpaw", ends in a curved heel instead of a tail. While many early enthusiasts found this more difficult to learn on, as they were thicker in

2891-569: The term Dinjii Zhuu instead of Gwichʼin . Dinjii Zhuu literally translates as "Small People," but figuratively it refers to all First Nations, not just Gwichʼin. The Gwichʼin language, part of the Athabaskan language family , has two main dialects, eastern and western, which are delineated roughly at the United States-Canada border . Each village has unique dialect differences, idioms, and expressions. The Old Crow people in

2950-531: The themes of stories such as: "Tsyaa Too Oozhrii Gwizhit" (The Boy In The Moon), "Zhoh Ts’à Nahtryaa" (The Wolf and the Wolverine), "Vadzaih Luk Hàa" (The Caribou and the Fish). In recent times, important figures in who have represented traditional belief structures are: Johnny and Sarah Frank, Sahneuti , and Ch’eegwalti’. Caribou are an integral part of First Nations and Inuit oral histories and legends including

3009-590: The third has a lower/secondary status. The first clan are the Nantsaii , which literally translates as "First on the land", the second clan are the Chitsʼyaa which translates as "The helpers" (second on the land). The last clan is called the Tenjeraatsaii , which translates as "In the middle" or "independents". This last clan is reserved for people who marry within their own clan, which is considered incestual. To

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3068-516: The tracker's shoe is over 5 feet (1.5 m) long and very narrow. This form, the stereotypical snowshoe, resembles a tennis racquet , and indeed the French term is raquette à neige . This form was copied by the Canadian snowshoe clubs of the late 18th century. Founded for military training purposes, they became the earliest recreational users of snowshoes. The snowshoe clubs such as the Montreal Snow Shoe Club (1840) shortened

3127-475: The traditional place names indicate that the Gwich’in have an ancient history in this region, likely since the early Holocene (~8,000 years). The many different bands or tribes of Gwichʼin include but are not limited to: Deenduu , Draanjik , Di’haii , Gwichyaa , Kʼiitlʼit , Neetsaii or Neetsʼit , Ehdiitat , Danzhit Hanlaii , Teetlʼit , and Vuntut or Vantee . Three major clans survive from antiquity across Gwichʼin lands. Two are primary clans and

3186-467: The two dominant Christian sects among the Gwichʼin. Notable figures in the missionary movement among the Gwichʼin are Archdeacon Hudson Stuck , William West Kirkby , Robert McDonald , Deacon William Loola, and Deacon Albert Tritt. The Traditional Chief, an honorary and lifetime title, of one Gwichʼin village is also an Episcopal priest: the Rev. Traditional Chief Trimble Gilbert of Arctic Village. Chief Gilbert

3245-463: The user's toes to pivot below the deck of the snowshoe. They allow the crampon cleats that are under the foot to be kicked into a slope for grip in climbing, but are relatively awkward for stepping sideways and backwards as the tail of the snowshoe can drag. Fixed-rotation bindings often cause snow to be kicked up the back of the wearer's legs; this does not tend to happen with full-rotation bindings. A series of straps, usually three, are used to fasten

3304-477: The wearer. Users should also consider the weight of any gear they will be packing, especially if they expect to break trail. Those planning to travel into deep powder look for even larger shoes. Many manufacturers now include weight-based flotation ratings for their shoes, although there is no standard for setting this yet. As is often the case with downhill skis, wood-frame snowshoes and suitable bindings are typically marketed and purchased separately rather than as

3363-652: Was a Gwich'in First Nation chief and a fur trader. After the establishment of the Hudson's Bay Company trading post at Fort Yukon in 1847, Alexander Hunter Murray appointed him Chief Trader. Following the expulsion of the Hudson's Bay Company from Fort Yukon in 1869 after the Alaska Purchase , he attempted to trade with the Americans, but dissatisfaction led him to lead a raid on Fort Yukon. Eventually,

3422-469: Was a crude frame snowshoe. Solid-wood "ski-snowshoes", essentially short, wide versions of traditional skis, were used in Eurasia. They were made of light woods such as pine. Slender skis seem to have been more popular. Both types of footwear were lined with furs for climbing. In Northwest North America in the early twentieth century, Roald Amundsen compared the solid-wood Norwegian skis he used with

3481-549: Was made from boiled poplar tree ashes mixed with caribou fat. Drums were made of caribou hide. Overalls were made from "really good white tanned caribou skin". Elders have identified at least 150 descriptive Gwichʼin names for all of the bones, organs, and tissues. "Associated with the caribou's anatomy are not just descriptive Gwichʼin names for all of the body parts including bones, organs, and tissues as well as "an encyclopedia of stories, songs, games, toys, ceremonies, traditional tools, skin clothing, personal names and surnames, and

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