Regions with significant populations | |
---|---|
British Columbia, Canada | |
Languages | |
English,Babine-Witsuwitʼen | |
Religion | |
Christianity,Animism | |
Related ethnic groups | |
OtherDene EspeciallyTsilhqotʼin,Dakelh, andWetʼsuwetʼen |
In its broader sense,Babine (sometimes spelledBabeen in older English-language texts) refers to theFirst Nations peoples who speak the Babine dialect of theBabine-Witsuwitʼen language, part of theAthabaskan language family, in the vicinity of theBabine River,Babine Lake,Trembleur Lake, andTakla Lake in the central interior ofBritish Columbia, Canada.
In its narrower sense, Babine refers to the subset of Babine speakers who belong to theLake Babine Nation, a band comprising three main communities:
The term Babine is of French origin, meaning "lippy", because when first encountered byfur traders. Babine women worelabrets. Although perceived by some as disparaging, the band prefers to use the name "Lake Babine Nation" because it emphasizes the connection of the people to their traditional territory around Babine Lake. Other ethnonyms associated with the Babine in historical literature incorrectly includeChemesyan orChimpseyan, which is an archaic term used for allTsimshianic speaking peoples, usually theTsimshian.
The Babine is located in theSkeena River watershed.