Our people were nomadic long ago. That is they moved from place to place throughout the year. They did not have a permanent house or even a permanent settlement.

Following the Cassiar Gold Rush in 1874, there were many changes within our Tahltan society. One of the greatest changes was in the number of Tahltans. We had suffered greatly from two smallpox epidemics and a great many of our people had died. By 1900 only a fraction of our original number existed, maybe only about 300 were still alive.

Another major change was taking place. We did not live the same lifestyle that we had in the past. Gradually our people were beginning to work for other people in exchange for wages. We could earn a living without the hardship of living on the land. Some of our men worked for trading companies, some worked for the big game outfits, and so on. These were some of the reasons for building a village of permanent log houses at Goon-da-chagga. Today we call this village Tahltan. Goon-da-chagga means "where the spring flows" because of the spring located here. The spring supplied drinking water for our people.

The Tahltan Village "Goon-da-chagga"

Our people lived in these houses, but for many years they still followed the routine of going off to hunt, trap, and gather berries. Every year in late June they returned to the rivers to fish and put up salmon. Winters were spent in their log houses. Emmons (1906) said that "in truth their houses are little more than storage depots, marks of social standing, and meeting places for feasts and ceremonies."

The log houses were built the same as non-native houses in the area. Spruce logs were peeled, dovetailed or notched at the corners. The spaces between logs were chinked and mudded. The roof had a ridgepole and gabled ends. Saplings laid close together were covered with mud. There was a door at center front and two or more windows. The floor was often plain earth, although some had floors made from sawn lumber. The lumber floors were raised slightly which also provided a sort of cellar. Food could be kept cool in this little cellar.

Inside there was only one large room. Several families might live in this room. Sleeping areas of different families were separated with boxes and trunks which held personal belongings. In early years there was a central fireplace. But later this was replaced with a wood cookstove.

Goon-da-chagga

In early days the furnishings were very simple. The bed might be the same as those used on the trail: scraped hide with the hair left on plus fur blankets. As time went on, our people built or bought tables, chairs and beds. Simple shelves held dishes and cooking pots. As in lean-to's and smokehouses, the walls were used as storage areas. Things, like traps, clothing, guns, and snowshoes, were hung on pegs on the wall. Other articles which w ere not needed at the time were stored outside in the cache found behind each house.

The houses of headmen did not belong to them, personally. They belonged to the Family group. These houses were the community house of a clan or a particular family. The headman also stored items belonging to the Family group. So he might have a trunk filled with ceremonial robes. These were the property of individuals. However, the furnishings and personal belongings belonged to the woman of the house, the wife of the headman.