Dene, Aboriginals of Canada

By: Regina and Charlotte

Where they Lived

The Dene lived in the Northern Boreal or the Sub arctic regions of Canada.

They spoke Northern Athabaskan.

The Dene were made up of separate tribal groups that were very similar with their language, culture, and geography.

Dene’s 5 main groups are:ChipewyanTlicho Yellowknifes Slavey Shatu

The term Dene comes from the Athapaskan word Dinee, meaning “People”.

Dene have two usages:Narrowly to refer to the Athabaskan speakers in the Northwest territory and Nunavut. Or to refer to ALL of the Northern Athabaskan speakers.

AppearanceDifferent from other aboriginal groups due to coming a couple thousand years later than all the others.

Look more Asiatic in appearance

most had very long hair, coloured beads,or porcupine quills

Clothing was generally made of tanned caribou or moose hides as well as seal skins.

Life StyleSurvival mostly depended on hunting and fishing. Became skilled hunters, passed skill down through generations.

Moose and Caribou was the most important thing hunted all year round, crucial diet to elders

The men traditionally became the hunters and occasionally warriorsthe women were responsible for:

1. gathering berries2. preparing the wild game 3. maintaining the living quarters

Homes

Their homes where portable,(roofs made out of Caribou) easy for moving around while following the animals migration while hunting.

Traveled in small family groups of about 10 to 20 people during the summer and fall.

During the winter more substantial structures were made

Families would come together and build pernament settlements from the snow (igloos).

Relationship with other TribesMostly kept to themselves, traveled with their closest relatives.

When ran into others from the tribe, would usually give each other food depending on how well off they were.

They had raids with the other colony's about revenge from past wrongdoings and to steal the other tribes women.

Friction with Southern Cree neighbors and Inuit people.

Story from Oral Tradition"At one time, winter kept the land in its cold grasp all year round. Everything was frozen; the lakes

and rivers stayed solid and icy. No plants could grow in the snow and cold.One day when the Dene were out hunting, they met a polar bear with a bag tied around his neck.

'What is in the bag?' the hunters asked Summer is in this bag' answered the bear 'with all its light and warmth'Then the Dene hunters tried to convince the bear to trade for the bag, but the bear refused.when the hunters returned home, they told their chief about the bear and his bag of summer. The

chief wanted the bag too and together they cam up with a plan. They will invite the bear to a feast and when he fell asleep they would take the bag.

So the hunters went out to search for the bear and invited him to the feast. When the bear came he did not have the bag and the Dene where terrible disappointed but they still served the bear. While the bear was asleep the came up with another plan, that when he awoke they will send four of their best hunters and follow the bear home.

The next morning the bear left and the hunters followed they soon came to a cave where two other bears was guarding the bag. The hunters jumped into attack three where killed and the last one was badly wounded but he grabbed the bag and pulled it open.

immediately, the sky was lit with sunshine, and warmth flooded over the land. The rivers and lakes thawed and flowers bloomed across the hillsides. Birds fluttered singing into the air. Ever since that time, the Dene have had both summer and winter seasons.

Religious Traditions Tea Dance

A Tea dance or "Dahot s'ethe| is a religious ceremony revealed to the prophets or spiritual leaders of the community, to ask for things like successful hunting seasons (that is why it is also called the call of the Caribou) or good weather, meeting with another tribe or a death. still held regularly in Chateh and Meander river.

Crow and Owl

Animal spiritsBelieved it poke to the peopleAnimals carved from ivory, considered as spirit-helpers were tools used by the shamans in rituals.

Historical Events1763 - The Royal Proclamation was issued. This forbade the trespassing of settlers on native lands; recognized the existence of aboriginal rights.1850 - defined for the first time in colonial legislation.1865 - 1000 Dene people die from the influenza1867 - the British North America Act assigns powers over the natives and land reserved for natives to the government of Canada1874 - natives are registered in preparation for the Indian Act1876 - Indian act is passed1896 - The first Act for the preservation of game in the Northwest Territories is put into force1899 - put on reserve lands to comply to the government’s treaty #81920 - the Dene under treaty #8 refused to accept treaty payment to demonstrate opposition to the Game Regulations imposed on them in violation of Aboriginal and Treaty rights1922 - Indian act changed to include the Inuit1944 - Some Dene groups start to protest the game laws and restrictions on their lands1957 - Dene chief’s meeting resolve problem to any treaty for natives to be able to hunt for any game if necessary for his livelihood.1970 - the Indian Brotherhood of the NWT was integrated to protect the rights and interests of the Dene under Treaty

Work Cited

"Native People." Canada: A country by consent. WEST/DUNN productions, n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2012.

"Native Civilisation.”Canada's First Nations. The applied History research Group, n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2012.

"an historical chronology of events." Dene Nation. Regional officeNWT, 1 Mar. 2012. Web. 16 Sept. 2012.Leap II, Terry A.

"ETHNOGRAPHY OF THE DENE PEOPLE OF CANADA." (2005): 22. Web. 16 Sept. 2012.