ABSTRACT
The first evidence of universalism in McLeod Lake arose during the attempts to elicit terms of relationship. Since the McLeod Lake community is so small, virtually all people within the same generation level are related to one another, if we use 'related' as meaning the sharing of identifiable consanguineal links. Descriptions of economic activity and ideological rationalizations, in the sense of 'accepted ways of proceeding', were also vague as to internal boundaries. Pan-Indian sentiments are linked to southern political ideas which filter into McLeod Lake by various means. The predisposition to accept militancy is easily understandable in light of recent Sekani history. McLeod Lakers are reticent in establishing political ties to non-Sekani Indians, despite strong avowals that they ought to do so, nor are they particularly welcoming towards non-resident Sekani.
