The Dene People of North America
Running Head: THE DENE PEOPLE OF NORTH AMERICA!
1
THE DENE PEOPLE!
2
Abstract
The Dene are a First Nations culture with a unique set of values and principles often not shared by the popular culture of the countries in which they reside. They believe in harmony between all living things of this world as well as the spirit world. Like all aboriginal tribes of the Americas, their culture has been irreparably bruised by the coming of other peoples, yet at the core of their history are the indisputable teachings of how to live a life that is good. In order to live harmoniously with one another, other cultures need to understand the Dene people in their own terms, and not in a way that compares their culture to other.
THE DENE PEOPLE!
3
The Dene People of North America
The Dene people are a group of Aboriginal nations residing in North Western
Canada and the South Western United States who are part of a larger group of Aboriginal nations. This larger category of nations, so named for the language they speak, are called
Athabaskan people. Beneath the Dene umbrella are nations of Dogrib, Chipewyan, south and north Slavey, and Gwich’in of northern Canada; and the Navajo of the South
A map of North America.
Shaded area represents
Denendeh
Western United States (Ryan, 1). The Word
Dene literally means “people”, and the area they have
always occupied in the Northwest Territories, Denendeh, was appropriately named to mean
“land of the people” (“Welcome to the Dene Nation”, 2012)
It is difficult to speak of one aspect of Dene culture without speaking of all others.
Their history, spiritual beliefs and political values are all intertwined. The Dene have always had strong ties to each other, to animals, to the earth and to the spiritual world. The belief is that we are equal to all these things. It is at the Dene core to rely on one another for community, animals and land for sustenance and shelter, and the spirit world for
1
THE DENE PEOPLE!
2
Abstract
The Dene are a First Nations culture with a unique set of values and principles often not shared by the popular culture of the countries in which they reside. They believe in harmony between all living things of this world as well as the spirit world. Like all aboriginal tribes of the Americas, their culture has been irreparably bruised by the coming of other peoples, yet at the core of their history are the indisputable teachings of how to live a life that is good. In order to live harmoniously with one another, other cultures need to understand the Dene people in their own terms, and not in a way that compares their culture to other.
THE DENE PEOPLE!
3
The Dene People of North America
The Dene people are a group of Aboriginal nations residing in North Western
Canada and the South Western United States who are part of a larger group of Aboriginal nations. This larger category of nations, so named for the language they speak, are called
Athabaskan people. Beneath the Dene umbrella are nations of Dogrib, Chipewyan, south and north Slavey, and Gwich’in of northern Canada; and the Navajo of the South
A map of North America.
Shaded area represents
Denendeh
Western United States (Ryan, 1). The Word
Dene literally means “people”, and the area they have
always occupied in the Northwest Territories, Denendeh, was appropriately named to mean
“land of the people” (“Welcome to the Dene Nation”, 2012)
It is difficult to speak of one aspect of Dene culture without speaking of all others.
Their history, spiritual beliefs and political values are all intertwined. The Dene have always had strong ties to each other, to animals, to the earth and to the spiritual world. The belief is that we are equal to all these things. It is at the Dene core to rely on one another for community, animals and land for sustenance and shelter, and the spirit world for
Citations: Abel, K. (1993). Drum Songs. McGill-Queens University Press. Bonnetroug, J.P. (n.d.). Para 7. An Outline of the History of Fort Providence. Retrieved November 13, 2012 from: http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/stations/ Dene Nation and Assembly of First Nations, NWT (n.d.). Para 3. Retrieved November 10, 2012 from: http://www.denenation.com/elders.html Malloch, L. (1984). Dene Government Past and Future. Altona: Friesen & Sons. Moore, P. (n.d.). Intergroup Relations and Group Maintenance. Retrieved November 10, 2012 from: http://www.multiculturalcanada.ca/Encyclopedia/A-Z/a9/10 Residential Schools: A History of Residential Schools in Canada. (2008). Retrieved November 4, 2012 from: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2008/05/16/f-faqsresidential-schools.html Ryan, J. (1995). Doing Things the Right Way. Calgary: University of Calgary Press & The Arctic Institute of North America (co-publication) Socha, T., Zahaf, M., Chambers, L., Abraham, R., Fiddler, T. (2012). Food Security in a Northern First Nations Community: An Exploratory Study on Food Availability and Accessibility. Retrieved November 12, 2012 from: http://www.naho.ca/jah/english/ jah08_02/08_02_food-security.pdf Watkins, M. (1977). Dene Nation the Colony Within. Toronto and Buffalo: University of Toronto Press. Dih Ttheda, L. (n.d.). Dene Elders Quotes. Retrieved October 27, 2012 from: (http:// www.sicc.sk.ca/dene-elders-quotes.html Fobert, E. (n.d.). Caribou in Canada. Retrieved November 6, 2012 from: (http:// www.canadiangeographic.ca/magazine/nd07/indepth/people_affected.asp Welcome to the Dene Nation and Assembly of First Nations NWT. (n.d.). Retrieved November 4, 2012 from: http://www.denenation.com/index.html