It is difficult to define exact Tahltan boundaries. The issue of boundaries was raised lately when talk began on land claims. Benny Frank said, "You have to stick up for land claims - we paid for this land with our blood."

Benny was talking about the wars that we fought with some of our neighbours long ago. In those days, we knew exactly where the boundaries were, and so they. When we reached the line that divided us from our neighbours, it was like we walked up against a wall. We did not go beyond that line, nor did they. Each group respected the boundary of their neighbour. If the line was crossed, then each realized that act was an invitation to go to war.

Now we are not so clear about boundaries. As Teit explained (1912-15), some persons had a knowledge of some, but not of others. That is, not every person knew all of the boundaries; some only knew of some of them. Teit also pointed out that there have been boundary changes over the years [possibly due to wars and/or trade]. Intermarriage allowed Tahltans (and their neighbours) to hunt and have use of a neighbouring nation's territiory. Intermarriage allowed certain people to enjoy the use of areas of more than one native nation.

So where are our boundaries? To find out, much research was carried out over many years. We talked to our elders. They have information that was told to them by elders in their day. We mapped our hunting and fishing sites. The names of these places give us information about boundaries. Tahltan sites have Tahltan names.

We also researched writings by explorers, traders, miners, settlers, etc. They also contain some information. For example, letters in the records of the Hudson Bay Company give information into how far our trading reached. By looking at all of this evidence, we have a picture of what our boundaries might have been.

In this section, you will look at a summary of the information that we collected. Realize that this is not a final answer to the question of our boundaries. Note, also, that this is not meant to be an argument for land claims. It is a record of some of the information that we researched.

We have included maps which show that there are differences of opinion about exact boundaries. It is important to realize that there is evidence to support the maps. Some evidence is more accurate than others but we will not debate their accuracy at this time. If anyone is interested in looking into this topic more deeply, there is still research to be done.

We claimed lands down river part way through the Coast Mountains. Some Tahltans claim that cairns found on mountain tops are said to mark the boundary to the west. However, we arranged for a neighbourly overlapping of a part of our down river territory with the Tlingit.

When the Tlingit began trading in our country, they wished to have use of a part of our country. They wanted to use land on the Stikine River below Glenora. So an agreement was reached. It was decided that they would come every summer to dry salmon and put up berries and plants in this region. When they left their camp and returned home, the land would return to us for our use.

The Tlingit claimed the lower Stikine River, from part way through the mountains to the muddy delta at the mouth of the river. It is said that in early years, they even charged us a passage fee if we wanted to visit the coast.

The Tlingit were allowed a few trading camps on the river. For example, a trading camp was set up at Nine Mile. Their goods were carried from their canoes to the flats high above the river. When their goods were all or nearly all sold, the Tlingit returned home.

In the east, some sharing of land along the Dease River developed over the years. We claimed control of the territory as far as McDame's Creek. This was the limit of our trading area in this region. We did not hunt or go below Canyon River and did little or no hunting on Cottonwood River and Eagle River.

In early years, the Kaska claimed rights inland to McDames. Later, when they began trading at the Hudson Bay post at Porter's Landing, the Kaska began to claim hunting rights up Dease River to the end of Dease Lake. So, now Tahltan and Kaska overlapped in that part of the country. When Reserves were being set up, they were given a Reserve in that area because they had been hunting and trading there.

To the north, we have had disputes with the Atlin Tlingit over territory. In fact, we have had wars. In his notes, Teit says that we, the Tahltans, told him that we had had a trading route which skirted Tahltan territory on the north. This route ran up the Taku and Nahlin Rivers over to Teslin Lake. From there it extended to Rancheria.

Again, we have had wars with the Nass people to the south about our common border. In fact, we eventually gave up part of the area we claimed to the south in reparation for our over-agressiveness in battle. Our territory had extended south past Stewart and Mesiadin Lake, east to Comb Peak, and northwards past Thurtade Lake. This is the area whic h was given up when peace was made. Treaty Creek was named in recognition of our peace treaty. A cairn built on a hillside is said to mark the spot.

This description gives you an idea of the area that is Tahltan country. But what about nowadays? This is what happened with our country since the mid-1800s.

When gold was discovered on the Stikine River in 1862, it was still our country. The Governor of the crown colony of British Columbia then organized it into the Stikine Territory. It was administered by British Columbia. In 1863, Governor Douglas claimed all territory north to the 60th parallel and west to what is now the B.C.-Alberta border. This territory now became part of British Columbia.

On July 20, 1871, the crown colony of British Columbia entered Confederation. That is how we became part of a province in the country of Canada.

Notice that we did not sign a treaty with the governments of B.C. or Canada. That is the reason we are talking about land claims with them now.