15

not much earlier, apparently, than the Sekani, adopted the culture of the Blackfoot in its entirety and retained nothing from their old home except their language.

The rise of the ¢#’lotona or Long Grass Indians, and of the Otzane o1 Davie’s band, illustrates a second process in the evolution of tribal units In the case of Davie’s band a single family (it makes no difference that one member was a half-breed) became dissatisfied with its old environ- ment and moved away into another territory. In time it developed a spirit of antagonism, or at least of independence, towards its former home and people. The new environment proved favourable, outsiders who married the sons and daughters remained there, and within half a century the

Puate IIT

63435 Old Davie and other men of the Long Grass band. (Photo by Wm. Ware.)

one family became the nucleus of a new tribe that claimed a definite territory and possessed a definite name. Davie’s band took the name and territory of a kindred band that had recently dissolved; the Long Grass Indians, who probably arose, not from one, but from two or three kindred families, seized part of the territory of an alien tribe and obtained a new name descriptive of their new home. Davie’s band is increasing rapidly, but remains in such close contact with the mother group that the two may ultimately unite again, or Davie’s band absorb the other. The Long Grass Indians are more remote, and have already taken on the culture of foreign tribes, Gitksan and Tahltan. If conditions favoured their increase, they might easily gain the status of an independent tribe; but their number