Which nations lived in the Mackenzie River drainage area?

The Mackenzie River drainage area is primarily inhabited by Athabaskan-speaking nations. Within the context of the American Subarctic culture area, the nations that traditionally resided in this region include the Chipewyan, Beaver, Slave, and Kaska nations.1

These groups are characterized by a mobile, less socially stratified culture compared to other subarctic groups that relied on salmon streams. Historically, these peoples utilized the resources of the boreal forest, including game such as moose and caribou, and adapted their material culture—such as the production of snowshoes and well-insulated housing—to the harsh northern climate.12