Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation

The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation call themselves the K’ai Taile Dene, meaning “people of the land of the willow”. They have used and occupied the Athabasca region for thousands of years, hunting, trapping, fishing and gathering.

Ancestors of the present-day ACFN, then known as the Athabasca Chipewyan Band, signed Treaty 8 at Fort Chipewyan in 1899. Members of ACFN continue to hold the rights guaranteed by Treaty 8, including hunting, trapping, gathering and fishing rights. ACFN members actively exercise Treaty rights on Traditional Lands and carry out traditional activities, as ACFN ancestors have for generations.

ACFN’s traditional ways of life include a deep understanding of the land and the importance of healthy water. They continue to be stewards of the environment and are creating a better world for the next generation.