The river valleys that drain from the interior to the coast provided routes of travel and trade, and the mountain passes — including those traversed by the glacier complex where Kwäday Dän Ts’ìnchi was found — were used as higher-altitude crossings by people who knew the landscape and its seasonal patterns.

The specific pass or route associated with the discovery site is one that, in traditional knowledge preserved by the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations and by the coastal Tlingit, was known and used.

Oral traditions in both communities describe routes across the mountains in this region, trade relationships between coastal and interior peoples, and the specific challenges and landmarks associated with high-altitude travel through glaciated terrain.

The Tlingit, in particular, were noted for long-distance travel and trade.