Home · Survival · Tools & Weapons

Tools & Weapons

Tools and weapons were created out of natural resources and were used in hunting, fishing, and textiles. Weapons, however, were created to be devastating and effective in protecting the tribe.

Snares were very useful when hunting, as they were lightweight and very portable. The snare was usually an open loop suspended in the air in the middle of high traffic animal areas. As the animal passes through the snare loop it would tighten around the animal’s neck.

Deadfalls were another Carrier hunting device. They were used to capture fur-bearing animals such as martin, or wolverine. Carefully balanced piles of stones or heavy logs were suspended and connected to a trigger line. Bait would be placed on the ground under the contraption. When the animal took the bait the trigger would be activated, and the falling logs or stones would crush the animal. This was effective as it did not damage the fur on the animals.

Surrounds were fences created to herd an animal in a certain direction. Tying long sticks between trees using twined willow bark created these fences. These fences could span over several kilometers. Gradually these fences narrowed and closed into a corral or dead end. As well, openings would be made along the track and in these openings the Carrier would place large snares.

The most common of Carrier tools were bows, arrows and spears. The bows of the Carrier were very small, no more than four feet in length. The bow was strengthened by layers of sinew glued to the back of the wooden part of the bow. The bowstring was made from fibers of sinew twisted together and then coated with pine gum to make the string waterproof. Arrow and spearheads were quite a task to craft. Once mastered they could be produced quickly. The spear and arrowheads were fashioned out of a variety of materials such as: obsidian, basalt, quartz, bone, beaver teeth, caribou antler and wood. Arrows were designed to make tracking wounded animals much easier. Grooves were carved along the length of the shaft causing blood to fall in more concentrated amounts.

Tsambilh or beaver nets were made out of caribou hide intertwined with plant bark. These nets would be set under the ice outside a beaver lodge. The beavers would be driven from the lodge with spears and then get entangled in the nets.

The Carrier people also had traps for fishing. Fences would be erected across a river with small openings in it. These fences of woven sticks guided the fish right into the traps where they would be collected. The traps would be left open so the people can get their share of the abundant of fish. In addition, a portion of the salmon would be allowed to reach its spawning ground to ensure the survival of salmon for future years.

Another tool used by the Carrier was scraping knives made from stone, slate, or bone. Certain types of knives had certain purposes such as, skinning or cutting salmon.

A weapon used by the Carrier was the stone dagger. These were approximately eight inches long and three inches wide. These daggers were very slender at about three eighths of an inch at the thickest part. The war club was another deadly weapon. It was made from either basaltic rock or caribou horn. The club was smoothed and shaped with a heavy base and knob top.

Hunter-Gatherers · Use of the Caribou · Diet · Cooking & Storing · Clothing · Housing · Tools & Weapons · Story by Doreen Patrick