"There used to be a town at Kluktu, between 18 and 19-mile place," just below Klukwan. This was a small- permanent. village settled by the ancestors of Jimmy Lee's, father, the Luqnahedi clan. They settled there. Long, before I was born. Members of other clans alsa had houses there. There were large tribal houses there too Eremember seeing a house of the modern type, but there were alsa the ruins of a native house at that place. An uncle of Johmy; work Thlanaut built the American style house at that place be Eater dismantled it and set it up at the town near the Haines airport called Yandestaki,, and still later took it to Haines, where it has been for at least ten years.

The Klukwan Area.

The present site of Klukwam has been the chief home of the Chilkat Indians, at least since the beginning of American occupation of the territory. It has for some time been set aside as school reserve. Aside from the village itself there are several.uses of the land in the region. The flats and the hillsides are a source of wild berries and vegetables. A form of wild celery which the natives called Yanz'et are found in the hills around Kiukwan and between Klukwan and Kells. Another native plant, wild potatoes, (apparently a form of fern) were gathered in this arcu in June. Wild rhubarb is also found found in this region.

There are a number of cemeteries around the village one behind the schooE another west of the village, and third below the road on the east end the village On Klukwan Hill thera is grave of an Indian doctor. 62/

Across the river from Klukwan where the Tsirku River enters there is an old camping place called Tayeyi. Tayeyi was a fish camp used chiefly during the summer months by all the natives of Klukwan together. Some of the people live there the year round and the Ganaxtedi clan had a permanent house there. This house was abandoned more than 50 years ago but the people still use the area 63/

Tsirku
Tsirku River and Chilkat Lake. -

The Klukwan natives utilize the full length of the Tsirku River as far up es the Glacier. They also use the shores of the Chilkat Lake and the streams which enter into that lake. Mary Williams describes the use of two sites on the upper portion of the Tsirku River in the following terms:

Statement of Mary Williams (12).
Statement of Susi Nasock (8).

Statement of Charlie James (4).

-45-.

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"At the Takhin Glacier in the upper portion of the Tsirku
River two days by canoe there was a berrying place called
Dakenxukwa. This could also be reached by way of the
Takhin River, and the Haines people 'sometimes came up
this way.
This place belonged to the Kagwantan clan.
gathered mountain blueberries and other berrics there.
Zelen Hotch went up there with her father when she was a
girl of less than ten (about 40 years ago). Our people
haven't gone up there recently because it is too hard to
get to by canoe.

"The next place down the Tsirku River is called Qatxalqiya,
between the confluence of Summit Creek and of Nugget Creek
with the Tsirku. Berries and gophers were obtained from
both sides of the Tsirku here. Tho Kagwantan were recog-
nized as owners but others went there. I only went there
one time about 30 years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Kudanaha went
up there frequently before his death about 15 years ago.
Don't know of anyone going up there recently. At a place
on the Tsirku River where two cliffs come together is a place
called Iyiq'aq, which was used as a camping place and where
a berry called Tinix, soap berries and blueborrico wera oo-
tained.. This was also a good place for mountain goats.
belonged to the whole ukwan people," 64

It

Mugget Creck flows into the Tsirku. From its banks the natives obtain cranterics and in the region thoy hunted goats and ground hogs. These latter used for mcat and their furs were used to make robes. this area much except for trapping, at the present time.

natives do not

In

The southern shore of Chilkat Lake belonged to the Kagwantan clan. is place there was a streem called Anwan. There are smoke houses in th area on the lake.b 667 The use of Chilkat Lake in modem times was discussed

nie fished and trapped on and around Chilkat lake. There
was a good fishing place on the far shore near a little
stream called anwan by the Kukwan people. The old people
-have told me that there used to be a village there where
we smoked fish. Everybody goes up there now - that is
all the ukwan people but they have told me it belonged
to the Kegwantan clan. Got bumpy sockeyes there. Wach y
father was still living we hunted bear up there.
ped there December of 1944, but not last year.
George Katzeek of Klubwan was up there last winter running
a trapline. Eunted coyotes on the flats last winter.
There is another place at the upper end of the lake called
gataq'aiyin where the humpy sockeye could be caught.

/Statement of Mary Williams (12). /Statement of Victor Hotch (3).

I trap-
I think

Statements of Susie Nasook and Charlie James (2, 4).

Was

-46

"a good place for bear, too. Last time I was there was
three years ago At the lower end of Chilkat Laku is a
lace called cekqwesq'i, I haven't been to that place
for about seven years. Another place on the lower end,
on the side toward Klukwam was a lace that Tom Lee held,
a trout stream called q'ctahini where humpy and cut-
throat trout can be had. I don't know which clan owned
that, but I have fished there. 67/
ir

ཅན ། ོ།

Another witness, discussing the use of the laka itself said: "The Lake is like common table but it was understood that certain streams were owned by certaín clms though the owner would invite others to join him." 68/

༡-༢-༡༠༩/LT

The lake region afforded the natives fish, berries, and fur and meet animals from early times to the present

KIehini River

The natives of Klukwan went up the Kichini River in canoea as far as Porcupine Creek. Their last camp, which was regularly used, was. at 40-Milc Place, which is right on the Canadian border. In olden times the natives continued up the river along what is now known as the. Derson Pass into the interior, in order to trade with the interior Indians. At the confluence of the Klchini with the Chilkat there is .fish camp to. which the natives reguLerly ga to dry their fish. There are a number of racks for drying fish. at... this place. It is ured by the Takanedi alan. At the present time. ≈ nativė woman married to a white man is living, in this creo. 69/ On up the chini River on the south shore at 26-le Place there is an important berrying area. It was described as follows:

..

I

"Across 26-mile place is. Gaiqudi, belonging to Kagwantan. never went there but saw others go. up there. in buats when I was picking at the place just beyond it. Mrs. Millie Lee and her former husband berried there. Haven't used that.. area in recent years because it is hard to get to:" 70/

Somewhat further up there were other berrying places. Mrs. Williams describes

these as follows:

"Across from 27-mila place was known as Daqui'iya. Here I
used to pick berrics.. I went there when I was a young girl
with anybody who might be going. It belonged to Cenkukadi
alan but everybody went there in later years for berries.
Trapping was reserved for the owning family, however..

"Just below this place, also across the river from the road
was a place called Di.kainya. where berries were obtained.
It is now homesteaded by Albert Chisel who has built a cabin

Statement of Victor Hutch (3).
Statement of Susie Nascck (8).
Statement of Charlie James (4).

Statement of Mary Williams (12).

Grec.

-47

there. I went there as a young girl, hiking up and coming
back with berries in carves. I used to camp there about two
weeks and pick many cranberrics in order to trade them with
other Indians. Lately we gether then only for our own use.
We still go there for berries; I don't go there now because
I'm too old, but the Klaneys und Mrs. Willard went last year.
I don't know what clan claims the place." 721/

Another witness indicated that logs for making canoes were obtained in this There is also a stream here from which natives get cohues and dogsalmon. 22 According to another witness James King, & Klukwan native, inherited a place near the 27-Mile Point on the south bank of the Klchini and he has a cabin here. This is used by himself and his fellow clan members. 23/ Another mile up the river berrying ground is described as follows:

-

that is, all the

I

"At 28-mile place on the Klchini River there was a place cal-
led Si.tXayeq where we went for high bush cranberries.
went there myself both before and after I was married; it
was an area that all the people used
people from Klukwan and even some of the people from Haines,
though these did not go up there so much. Recently hone-
steader there by the name cf Mr. Hulder ran us off when we
were gathering berries." 24/

At 30-mile place on the highway a stream enters the Klchini which is known as Big Boulder Creek or Yakuck Creek. This stream has always been rich in cohous, ms, and king salmon, end the natives go here to get fish. At this place ere is also an area covered with highbush cranberries and mountain blueberThis area has however, been homesteaded by a white man named Forrest, Young in recent years and he does not permit the Indians to use this land. 75/

es.

Two miles further up the Klchini the Porcupine Crock enters it from the scuth. There is now a mine on Porcupine Creek. It has, however, from time immemorial been an important place for the natives of Klukwar. It was the highest camp site to which the natives could get by cunce. This place was described as follows:

"At the presunt site of Porcupine we used to get blueberries.
There is now a mine there, but we continue to go there.
People from Klukwan went up there last fall curing the burry
season. The old name for this place is Keqatchini or Kaquhini.
In the old days this place was settled by sumebody from the
Raven side but in her time everybody was going there. My
Mother told me about this place when they started the mine
there." 76/

75/

Statements of James King and Hary Millions (5, 12).

7 Statement of fary Willilms (12).

The last site of importance to the Klukwan peɔ It was et 40-Mile Place eKichini where they gather cranberries and blueberries. 27/

The Chilkat. River above the Klchini.

It has already been noted that the point of confluence of the Klchini and the Chilkat was used as a camp by the Kuksan natives, for drawing fish. ile field work was in progress one native family was building a house near is place. The natives have long had fish racks here.

The fish place above the cunfluence of the two rivers that is of special mportance to the natives is Mosquito Lake which is called Xuntas. It is cr the west bank of the river. At Mosquito Lake the natives. fished for various kinds of salmon, trapped and hunted mountain goats. They occasionally spent he winter at this place. 78/ -·

This

A short way abon Mosquita Lake a small stream enters the Chilkat. 3. sometimes called Bear Creek and sometimes Yulini. This straum unters rom the west. Along its banks natives hunted and trapped for goats, marten; mink, fox, lynx, and wolverine. This site la also a source of cranberries. ary: Välliams describes it as follows:

"At the confluence of Ear Cruck and the Chilkat River et a
place called Nc.kiniq I picked cranberries up to the time
my husband died about nine years ago Gus Klaney of Klukwan.
and his wife go up there still. I first went there with my
uncle when I was about 14 years old.. We-usually go there in
the fall. During my time all the people had the use of that
place, but my great great grandfather, named Ankungeh, had
exclusive use of it in his time." 29/

nother witness stated that Johnny Shorty has a cabin at the mouth of the Yelhini which he uses for trapping. This place was handed down to John Shurty rom his uncles who were members of the Ganaxtevi clan. Mr. Shorty also goes ip this creek to gather berries, to catch echoes and king salmon, and tu sécure wood for houses and canoes. 80/

A short way above Toxhini was another site called Tsukhini. This place is a source of suckeye and cohoe salmon. It is particularly important because the salmon run very late in the year and fresh fish can be cbtained until New [ear's. 81/ James King stated that there were sackchouses and living cabins at this place. 82/

The Kelsall River was utilized as hunting and trapping territory by the Kiukwan natives. Concerning this place James King said:

78

79/

Statements of Susic Nasook and Mary Williams (8, 12).
Statements of Susie Nascok and Archie Watson (3, 10)
Statement of Mary Williams (12).

Statement of Charlie Jumes (4). The purchase of a cabin by Johnny Shorty as corroborated by Victor Hutch and John H. Willard.

31/

32/

Statement of Susic Nesuck (0)

Statement of James King (5). John H. hillard indicates that one cabin there was the property of William Johnson, Klukman native.