Dene Belief Traditions

Citations

URL http://www.sicc.sk.ca/archive/heritage/ethnography/dene/beliefs/spiritualism.html

Website Title Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre - Heritage Website - Ethnography - Dene - Beliefs & Customs

Access Day 21

Access Month october

Access Year 2018

URL https://epicureandculture.com/cultural-encounters-a-look-at-the-traditions-of-the-dene-first-nations/

Website Title Epicure & Culture

Publication Day 21

Publication Month January

Publication Year 2014

Access Day 21

Access Month october

Access Year 2018

Article Title Aboriginal Culture: A Look At The Traditions Of The Dene First Nations

URL http://www.sicc.sk.ca/archive/heritage/ethnography/dene/familylife/death.html

Website Title Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre - Heritage Website - Ethnography - Dene - Family Life

Access Day 21

Access Month october

Access Year 2018

URL https://denetha.ca/history/#spirituality

Website Title Dene Tha First Nation

Access Day 21

Access Month october

Access Year 2018

Article Title History

Important Rituals

- They believed that birth was as important as death. At times of death the Dene put all of the deceased's belongings together and burned them. There was a strong belief in reincarnation and that dead’s spirits could be reborn in another life so they can continue to remain among the people.

- The Dene people were not given their traditional names until their childhood. Their names were given to them by the elders or the medicine men or women. Their names were based on their personality, reputation, appearance and more. Their Indian names were very important and were known to give a person character, a Dene person must live up to the name given to them.

Games

Struggles

Food

- Dene nations joined to form the Indian Brotherhood of the Northwest Territories in 1969-70. The Norman Wells project is an experiment in university/Native organization research. The goal is to develop a database on the effects of the Norman Wells Oilfield Expansion and Pipeline Project on Native Dene community-based economic activity and lifestyles.

- The dene had to find things to do to pass the long cold winters, so they started making up games to play

- Food can be scarce in places where for 50% the year, animals either migrate south or enter into a deep hibernation and any remnants of vegetation are hidden under layers of snow. However, the Dene are a resourceful people and find a way to make it work

- They have many many games which are played every two years in their "Arctic Winter Games" tournament. These games are played not only for fun, but also to improve their hunting skills.

- Dene territory passes through many many lakes and rivers, because of that fish is one of their favorite foods during the winter

- The most popular games are snow snake and hand games

- Fish can be enjoyed over an open fire, but in order to preserve them during the winter, they can also be salted, dehydrated and made into dry fish.

Belief Traditions

• - They also often eat bannock, a dessert made mainly of flour and water but toasted on an open fire and filled with honey or chocolate to make it sweet.

-They believed that the connection between life of man and animals was very important.

- They thought this because they believed this connection led the hunters to the animals and the animals reciprocated by sacrificing themselves for the men.

-The Dene were very strict on living in a way that was respectful to the land, they did this because they thought that if rules of the land were broken then the animals would be upset and would no longer sacrifice themselves as food ,which would result in the Dene people starving.

- A medicine man or woman is someone who is a spiritual healer, they do this through music, dance, and nature and other common traditions. The medicine man or woman is designated through a repetition of dreams. If your dreams are repeating that means that the spirits are offering you to be a medicine man or woman.

Music

- The dene are known for their extraordinary drumming skills

- Drumming has been a huge part in their culture forever, it is thought by them that the sound of a steady drum beat can even have medicinal healing powers

- Drumming is also used during important meetings and community gatherings where singing and dancing is encouraged

- When the drums are used they had to be blessed before to channel spirit animals into the music and to ensure peace and prosperity in the music. This is done by burning sage and allowing the smoke to waft into the drummer and their instrument.

- The point of it drumming to connect with spirits and to feel calm

Before we start lets give you a little background information...

- They live in central and northwestern Canada

- They have lived there for over 4,000 years

- The area is known as the Denendeh which means "The creators spirit flows through this land"

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- Over time they have turned the frozen desert into a cultural paradise with their music, games and food

Dene Belief Traditions

By: Lili and Althea