Cheslatta Carrier Nation

Cheslatta Carrier Nation or Cheslatta T'En (pronounced chez-la-ta), of the Dakelh (pronounced [tákʰɛɬ]) or Carrier people (Ta-cullies, meaning "people who go upon water" is a First Nation of the Nechako River at the headwaters of the Fraser River.

The Nechako (/nəˈtʃækoʊ/) River was once the greatest tributary of the Fraser River, and the watershed was used by the Carrier people. For centuries the Cheslatta T'en hunted, fished and trapped there and were part of an ancient trade network called the Grease Trail. The grease was actually eulachon oil. from the oolichan, or candlefish, a fatty Pacific coast smelt. The oil was a highly prized commodity grease trail and was carried in bentwood boxes that would often leak. It was named the Alexander Mackenzie Voyageur Route, then renamed the Nuxalk-Carrier Grease Trail to honour the guides. with the Nuxalk and Chilcotin.

The Cheslatta village and Cheslatta Lake (Tsetl'adak Bunk'ut – ″Peak Rock Lake″) flooded due to the construction of the Kenney Dam. which created Nechako Reservoir, in 1952.

Most members now live on a dozen small scattered reserves just south of Francois Lake. In 2013 the Cheslatta Carrier Nation (CCN) "are based at Southbank, on the south shore of Francois Lake, 23 kilometres (14 mi) south of Burns Lake (Tselhk'azbunk'ut – ″hone lake″). They have eight reserves on 1,400 hectares (3,500 acres), with all reserves located at least 5 kilometres (3 mi) apart. They have 340 members, with 125 members living on reserve, although there is no central community. The band office and other community buildings are located on a reserve about two km south of the Southbank ferry dock." The population on reserve is 167 and the population off reserve is 163, with a total of 330 according to the CNN INAC Active Band list reported in the 2011–2012 Language Needs Assessment report.