9
Diseases and EpidemicsProbably the biggest consequence of the K'uch'an arrival was the diseases they brought to the First Nation people. Their immune systems had no resistance to these foreign diseases, such as influenza, diptheria, measles, tuberculosis, scarlet fever, and pneumonia. Northern Tutchone people probably felt the effects of disease even before they met K'uch'ans, because Tlingit traders would have spread diseases they had caught when trading with Russians on the coast.
According to Legros (1981), epidemics caused an estimated 30% decline among the Northern Tutchone groups between 1848-1893, and 36% decline from 1893-1908. In 1902, the entire group at Braeburn Lake (Tatl'a Huchoa hud'än - "End of lake people" ) was wiped out by epidemic. An influenza epdemic in 1918-19 devastated Little Salmon, Big Salmon and Carmacks.
Becasue of all the deaths, groups of people began to move to new areas and join together, partly to escape the diseases and partly because their numbers had become so small. Epidemics played a large role in people's choice to move towards Carmacks, and in its growth into a major centre.
10
Big Changes AheadThe first K'uch'ans in the Yukon interacted with Northern Tutchone and other First Nations peoples, traded with them, sometimes married them, but had no real influence over their lives. In fact, K'uch'ans were often dependent upon First Nations people for their own survival, needing guidance and knowledge in a foreign land.
However, the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897-9 was to change everything. A few hundred K'uch'an in the Yukon was to become over 30,000 in just a few short months. While few stayed, those that did very soon wanted to establish their society in the Yukon. The consequences for the First Nations people already living here would be severe.
 |
 |
 |
 |