DCHP-1 Online

Northern Indian

• 1a a Chipewyan, so named in the Churchill region of Hudson Bay by the English traders to distinguish them from the Crees further south.

  See also: Northerner (def. 2)  Northward Indian  

  • 1689  (1929)  Found an old Canoe of these northern Indians. . . .
  • 1715  (1932)  To Day I made a feast for the home Indians to know how many were willing to make a peace with the Northern Indians. . . .
  • 1821  (1900)  Among the Northern Indians or Chipewyans Pictures of any kind are in great Estimation for they generally consider them as Charms and frequently request them from us in the Fall of the Year to ensure Success during the Winter.
  • 1963  . . . through [this area] the boundary line between the Northern Indians and their traditional enemies the Eskimos ran at this time.

• 1b a member of any of the Athapaskan tribes of the Northwest.

  • 1834  (1909)  . . . they are travelling on strange lands to kill grief, not an unusual custom among the Northern Indians.
  • 1850  (1910)  Again I have made frequent enquiries of the "Gens du large," of the Northern Indians, who visit the Arctic sea coast. . . .
  • 1914  We saw none of that harsh treatment of their women supposed to be the custom of the Northern Indians.
  • 1921  Two years before, with two white companions, he had started with some of the northern Indians, but in a few weeks the Indians grew weary of the journey and plundered the white men of most of their possessions.

• 2 an Indian of the north coast of British Columbia, especially of the Haida.

  See also: Northerner (def. 3)  Northern People  Northman (def. 3)  

  • 1860  The Northern Indians are expecting a large number of their friends from above, and as soon as they arrive, threaten to exterminate the Flat-heads.
  • 1860  Tuesday evening saw a renewal of hostilities between the Hyter and Stickeen tribes of Northern Indians.
  • 1927  Sometimes, though, they join to fight the Northern Indians.

• 3 one of the Montagnais and Naskapi Indians of the Ungava peninsula.

  • 1963  . . . between Eastmain River and Richmond Gulf, lived other Algonkian Indians of a more primitive and independent nature, the Northern Indians of the Eastmain and Whale River journals, who were less inclined or less able to become regular fur-trappers. . . .