Stories & Legends

1700
Ancestors, Stories & Legends, Timeline, Traditional Knowledge

“Yamǫǫ̀zha is noted for making the land safe for the people to travel. Known as the “great Traveller’, he dedicated his life to making the laws and setting the world right for the people and animals to live in together. He transcends the time between the old and the new worlds.”  from the...

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1750
Placenames, Stories & Legends, Timeline

On this rocky island, there is a small child foot imprint on the rock by the shore. 

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1751
Ancestors, Stories & Legends, Timeline, Traditional Knowledge

There once lived an old woman and her young daughter. They had lived for so long in the same place, that they decided to move away to another location. So, one day they broke camp and prepared to leave.  While they were packing, their dog died of old age. The woman and her daughter were very...

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1763
Timeline

When Europeans began living in North America there was enough land and resources so that all people could live together. HOWEVER as more and more Europeans arrived, tension over the land was created. The government at that time (British) created the Royal Proclamation to deal with this problem....

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1820
Placenames, Stories & Legends, Timeline

Sacred waterfall. When one pays respect, the rainbow seen can predict the future. 

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1850
Ancestors, Placenames, Stories & Legends, Timeline

This is where Edzo and Ekècho made peace 

 

 

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1881
Ancestors, Timeline

Jimmy Bruneau was born on December 12, 1881, and raised on the land. After Chief Monfwi’s death in 1936, Jimmy Bruneau became the Chief. He understood that times were changing and that people needed the knowledge and skills that they could learn in school. He wanted children to be educated, but...

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1889
Timeline

Born Madeleine Ink’ayamo in the Behchokǫ̀ region on June 14, 1889.  On August 13, 1907, she married Benjamin Zoe, and had 11 children: Louis, Joseph, Veronique, Nicolas, Marie Adele, Sarah, Edward, Helen Margaret, Dora George, and Elizabeth. 
Madeline is remember for many reasons but in...

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1913
Ancestors, Timeline

In the 19th and 20th century, the Canadian federal government's Indian Affairs department officially encouraged the growth of the Indian residential school system as a valuable agent in a wider policy of assimilating Aboriginal peoples in Canada into European-Canadian society.

A key goal...

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1921
Ancestors, Timeline

On August 22, 1921, Chief Monfwi, representing all Tlicho, signed Treaty 11 with Canada. The Treaty promised to give the Tlicho annual payments and services, like medical care, education and old age care. In exchange, Canada would get title to the land, and would be free to allow gas and mineral...

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1924
Timeline

Nancy O. Lurie, an esteemed anthropologist and advocate of indigenous North America, passed away this May 13, 2017 at the age of 93.

One of the PWNHC’s first virtual exhibits was based on her 1962 recordings of the Dogrib (Tlı̨chǫ) Tea Dance in partnership with other legendary... read more
1924
Timeline

In 1996, Helm was contacted by John Zoe, a Dogrib official, and Thomas Andrews, an archaeologist at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, located in Yellowknife, regarding artifacts which had been taken by a graduate student of the University of Iowa in 1894, Frank Russell. Helm assisted...

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1934
Ancestors, Timeline

Harry Sımpson dechı̨ta deèzhǫ, nàzè, łıwe k’alawo eyıts’ǫ edzoò k’ele ı̨̀le. Wekǫ̀ta gha ası̀ı łǫ k’e wheda ı̨lè eyıts’ǫ Tłı̨chǫ gha ndè ghǫ neyàetı eyıts’ǫ whacho ndèts’ǫ̀ k’aòwo gı̨lı̨ gha ǫhdaà dehkw’e sıı xè ɂaı̀t’ı̨ ı̨̀le.

Harry Chekoa elı̨ hò, ǫhdaà whaèdǫ...

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1934
Placenames, Timeline

Buffum Family Collection from Tlicho Government on Vimeo.

George Buffum was a trader in Fort Rae (Behchokǫ̀), from 1934 to 1946.  He lived here with his family, wife Louise and daughter Marylyn. The Buffum Family Collection is made up of eight pieces of clothing and bags that were...

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1936
Timeline

Faraud Hospital in Fort Rae (Behchokǫ̀) was opened from 1936 until August 1974.  Named after Father Henri Faraud a priest and later Bishop from 1862-1889. 

Page 5 of The Capsule. Vol. 7, No. 2 - Summer 1979 Newsletter of the Northwest Territories Hospital Association

...

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1959
Placenames, Timeline

In the canoe - the men are Harry Wedawin and Jim Drybones with the poles, and Philip Nitsiza at the kicker. Mary Rose (Mrs Isadore), Charlot and baby Leo are in the middle.

Reference:

CREDIT: NWT Archives/June Helm fonds/N-2003-037: 0348

 

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1962
Timeline

Listen to the Dogrib Tea Dance songs recorded in Rae at Treaty time in 1962, by the anthropologist June Helm and Nancy O. Lurie.

Helm eyıts'ǫ Lurıe edlatlǫ xo ts'ǫ̀ Bechekǫ̀ eyıts'ǫ Whahtı̀ (Tsǫ̀ǫ̀tı̀ wııyeh ı̨̀le) ełexè eghàlagı̨̀nda ı̨̀lè. Sǫmba naàzhe ekı̀yeh, Helm...

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1970
Timeline

Publish in Up Here Magazine - January 2015 Issue.  Written by Roger Brunt.

I'd left Yellowknife well-outfitted, lots of gas and supplies lashed down in my freighter canoe, just before fall one day in the early 1970s. The outboard motor was running well, and with any luck I figured I’d be...

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1971
Timeline

On August 28, 1971 the story that headline the Native Press told about an agreement signed between the Rae-Edzo School Society and John Parker, “for a school and a hostel.” 

The story says Chief Jimmy Bruneau first thought about the idea ten years previous and Charlie Charlo confirmed...

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1973
Timeline

It was becoming clear that the old treaties with Canada, including Treaty 11, were no longer working for Aboriginal people. Promises of care and services were not being kept, and Aboriginal rights were being interfered with.

In 1968, Tlicho assembled in Behchoko, and together refused to...

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1974
Timeline

In 1974, the Indian Brotherhood of the Northwest Territories and the Metis Association of the NWT joined together to negotiate for a single comprehensive land claim on behalf of all Aboriginal peoples of the Mackenzie Valley, including Tlicho.

After 10 years of negotiations, in May 1988,...

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1978
Timeline, Traditional Knowledge

These winter moccasins were made in 1978 by a group of women sewing for Operation Heritage in Behchokǫ̀.  They are made of caribou skin in a traditional style and have liners made with caribou skin with the hair left on.  Mrs. Bernadette Williah recounts that when the hair was left on the hide,...

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1979
Ancestors, Stories & Legends, Timeline, Traditional Knowledge

1979 news article on Madeleine Rabesca of Behchokǫ̀ by Hubet Johnson.  

I was walking in the bush and all of a sudden I heard a loud roar. I looked around and saw a big lion and his long mane blowing in the wind...In a few seconds, the lion turned into a man, and a woman was standing...

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1982
Timeline
Section 35 of the Constitution...

In 1982, Canada changed its Constitution to add a Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Charter sets out the fundamental rights and freedoms that all citizens of Canada enjoy. The Charter is the highest law of Canada, and all governments, agencies and boards are...

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1985
Timeline

Read the Įłàà K'omodǫ Zha Xè Nawhehk'à written in Tłı̨chǫ. 

Read Įłàà K'omodǫ Zha Xè Nawhehk'à here in PDF.

Published Published by GNWT, and Dogrib Divisional Board of Education.

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1991
Timeline

For a number of years, Dene Metis and the Tungavik Federation of Nunavut tried to negotiate a deal on the boundry between their traditional territories. The negotiations failed and in 1991 a former NWT Commissioner, John Parker, was appointed to arbitrate on the issue. After hearing both sides,...

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1992
Timeline

The First Assembly of the Dogrib Treaty 11 Council gathered on August 24-28, 1992.  Delegates unanimously passed a resolution mandating the Dogrib Treaty 11 Council to “assume full control and responsibility for negotiation” for a Dogrib Nation Regional comprehensive Claim. 

View Resolution... read more
1993
Placenames, Timeline

that the Dogrib Treaty 11 Council is directed to continue to negotiate a comprehensive claim and self government agreement - Resolution #93-05

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1994
Timeline

After the breakdown of the Dene-Metis negotiations, individual groups began negotiating for their own land claims agreements. In 1991, the Sahtu Dene and Metis began the negotiations process. Later, the Gwich’n also began negotiations for their own land claim.

And in 1991, at an Assembly...

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1994
Timeline

Chief Jimmy Bruneau School was built in Edzo, and opened in 1971 due to the perseverance of Chief Jimmy Bruneau and the community of Behchoko.  This also established the Rae-Edzo School Society, the first Indigenous run school board in Canada where the Tłı̨chǫ people had rights control of their...

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1995
Timeline

View the 53 minute video on St. Michael's Church Service taken on June 4, 1995. 

 

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1995
Ancestors, Stories & Legends, Timeline

Wha Dǫ Ehtǫ K'è (Trails of Our Ancestors) - On July 29, 1995 five 22-foot canoes left Behchoko following the trails of their ancestors, retracing the river routes, visiting camp sites and villages where people lived through the ages. 

Read more on the Trails Of Our Ancestors here (PDF... read more
1997
Timeline

Read the Lac La Martre (Whatì) Reader Project on Segha Nezı̨ (I like) written in Tłı̨chǫ and English. 

Read Segha Nezı̨ (I like) here in PDF.

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1997
Timeline

The signing of the Dogrib Treaty 11 framework agreement with the federal government in late August (1996) was a first in the Northwest Territories. 

The agreement is historical because self-government will be negotiated at the same time as a land claim.

Scott Serson, deputy...

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1997
Timeline

On August 8, 1997 the Dogrib (Tłı̨chǫ) Treaty 11 Council carries Resolution #97-03 and #97-04  at the 6th Annual Assembly in Wekweètì.

Resolution #97-03 was carried unanimously in support of proposed self-government elements, and fully supports the Chief negotiator and negotiation team in... read more
1998
Timeline

At the beginning of the 20th century, hundreds of caribou skin lodges were in use by the Tłı̨chǫ people of Northern Canada. In 1997 the only known example was at a museum in Iowa City. The Caribou Skin Lodge Project began in 1997 when, with the help of anthropologist June Helm and Natural...

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1998
Stories & Legends, Timeline, Traditional Knowledge

1998 Trails of Ancestors - Behchoko to Whati.  It was a learning and growing experience. students and teachers saw their roles reversed.  Elders passed on their wealth of knowledge, and also learn more about the Tlicho youth who would be leaders in the future. 

Read the Trails of our...

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1999
Timeline

On August 9, 1999 the first combine land claim and self government Agreement-in-Principle (AIP) in the northwest Territories was initialed at the 8th Annual Assembly in Gamètì.  

The Agreement-in-Principle is a milestone, it represents the fulfillment of a Resolution made  the Dogrib General... read more
2000
Timeline

In 2000, Tłı̨chǫ created their own Tłı̨chǫ Constitution. The Tłı̨chǫ Constitution is the highest Tłı̨chǫ law. In its preamble, it lays out the fundamental principles that will guide the Tłı̨chǫ people and their Government. The Constitution also defines the powers and structure of the Tłı̨chǫ ...

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2000
Timeline

On January 7, 2000 the Dogrib Comprehensive Land Claim and Self-Government Agreement-in-Principle (AIP) was signed by Dogrib Treaty 11 Council, Northwest Territories (GNWT) and the Government of Canada. 

"Signing the Dogrib Agreement-in-Principal today means that the Dogrib are on step... read more
2000
Timeline

On 2000, the chief negotiators for Canada, the GNWT and Dogrib Treaty 11 Council initialled the Tłı̨chǫ Agreement-in-Principle. The AIP set out all the major terms reached in negotiations, and would form the basis of the Final Agreement.

The AIP identifies which lands would become...

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2002
Ancestors, Timeline, Traditional Knowledge

 For centuries the Tłı̨chǫ of the Northwest Territories have relied on an intimate knowledge of the land and its wildlife to survive. The Tłı̨chǫ lived in a yearly cycle of following traditional trails in birchbark canoes to the barren lands in the fall to harvest the caribou herd; and then...

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2003
Timeline

Tłı̨chǫ 12th Gathering held in Behchoko Northwest Territories, from August 23 - 25,  2003.

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2003
Timeline

This translation includes the book of Genesis and the New Testament in Tłı̨chǫ. The first edition of the Tłı̨chǫ New Testament was published in 2003. It was a historic event, as it was the first time in more than a hundred years that a complete New Testament was published for one of the Dene...

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2003
Timeline

The Dogrib Treaty 11 Council, the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Government of Canada signed the agreement on August 25, 2003

The historic Tłı̨chǫ Land Claims and Self-Government agreement was signed in Behchokǫ̀ on August 25, 2003, exactly 82 years after Chief Monfwi...

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2003
Ancestors, Timeline

The translation includes the book of Genesis and the New Testament in Tłı̨chǫ. The first edition of the Tłı̨chǫ New Testament was published in 2003. It was a historic event, as it was the first time in more than a hundred years that a complete New Testament was published for one of the Dene...

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2003
Timeline

Eligible voters voted in favour of the Tłı̨chǫ Agreement on June 26 and 27, 2003. A total of 93% of eligible voters participated in the vote and 84% of eligible voters were in favour of the Tłı̨chǫ Agreement;

References:

Deciding Tlicho's future by Northern News Services read more
2005
Timeline

August 4th - the official start of the Tłįchǫ Government.

The Tłįchǫ Community Government Members were sworn-in on the morning of August 4th, followed by an opening prayer and remarks, and the official closing of the Dogrib Treaty 11 Council 14th Annual Gathering.

Ceremonies continued in...

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2006
Timeline

From October 2006 till August 2007, the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre (PWNHC) hosted an exhibit of 50 objects of Dene manufacture selected from the collection of the National Museums of Scotland (NMS). Collected in the NWT in the mid-19th century, the NMS Dene collection stands as one...

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2009
Timeline

5th Annual Tłı̨chǫ Gathering and 1st Session of the 2nd Tłı̨chǫ  Assembly, on August 4, 5, and 6, 2009 in Behchokǫ̀ at the cultural Centre. 

The purpose of the Annual Gathering is to bring people together to share in the social, political, and cultural activities of the Tłı̨chǫ. 

... read more
2010
Placenames, Timeline

The Tłı̨chǫ Chimney Project was created by the partnership between the Tłı̨chǫ Government, De Beers Canada and the University of British Columbia. The goal of the project was to produce documentation that will assist in the future reconstruction/replication of a traditional  chimney by the ...

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2010
Timeline

6th Annual Tłı̨chǫ Gathering and 6th Session of the 2nd Tłı̨chǫ Assembly, on July 6, 7, and 8, 2010 in Gamètì at the Community Government Hall. 

The purpose of the Annual Gathering is to bring people together to share in the social, political, and cultural activities of the Tłı̨chǫ. ...

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2011
Timeline

7th Annual Tłı̨chǫ Gathering and 11th Session of the 2nd Tłı̨chǫ Assembly, on July 5, 6, and 7, 2011 in Whatì at the Johnny Nitsiza Cultural Centre. 

The purpose of the Annual Gathering is to bring people together to share in the social, political, and cultural activities of the Tłı̨chǫ...

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2011
Timeline

Two Tłı̨chǫ k'ę̀ę̀ Yats'ehti (Tlicho Prayer) Books  by the Tłı̨chǫ Community Services Agency: 

Download Tłı̨chǫ Prayer Book here in PDF.  2nd Edition Published March 2011 Download Tłı̨chǫ Prayers here in PDF.  Published February 2011

Età Weza Tsı̨ - Età Weza Tsı̨ yedàiyeh nezı̨ı̨...

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2012
Timeline

CBC Story - September 02, 2012 - For the first time in almost 20 years, kindergarten classes in Behchoko, N.W.T., are being offered entirely in Tlicho Yati, the language of the Tlicho First Nation people.

It’s a move parents hope will help connect their children with their culture...

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2012
Timeline

8th Annual Tłı̨chǫ Gathering and 16th Session of the 2nd Tłı̨chǫ Assembly, on July 10, 11, and 12, 2012 in Wekweètì at the Alexis Arrowmaker School. 

The purpose of the Annual Gathering is to bring people together to share in the social, political, and cultural activities of the Tłı̨chǫ...

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2013
Timeline

9th Annual Tłı̨chǫ Gathering and 1st Session of the 3rd Tłı̨chǫ Assembly, on August 6, 7, and 8, 2013 in Behchokǫ̀ at the Elizabeth Mackenzie Elementary School. 

The purpose of the Annual Gathering is to bring people together to share in the social, political, and cultural activities of...

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2013
Timeline

Tłı̨chǫ Special Gathering, on February 13, 14 and 15, 2013 in Whatì at the Johnny Nitsiza Cultural Centre.

The purpose of the Annual Gathering is to bring people together to share in the social, political, and cultural activities of the Tłı̨chǫ. 

Poster:

Three boys... read more
2014
Timeline

10th Annual Tłı̨chǫ Gathering and 6th Session of the 3rd Tłı̨chǫ Assembly, on July 8, 9 & 10, 2014 in Whatì  at the  Johnny Nitsiza Cultural Centre. 

The purpose of the Annual Gathering is to bring people together to share in the social, political, and cultural activities of the...

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2015
Timeline

On August 4th, 2005, the Tłı̨chǫ Agreement came into effect and with it, the Tłı̨chǫ Government was established. It was an historic day for the Tłı̨chǫ. It has been 10 years now since the Tłı̨chǫ Agreement came into effect and time to celebrate our collective achievement.

Grand Chief...

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2015
Timeline

11th Annual Tłı̨chǫ Gathering and 6th Session of the 3rd Tłı̨chǫ Assembly, on July 7, 8 & 9, 2015 in Gamètì at the Commuity Government Hall. 

The purpose of the Annual Gathering is to bring people together to share in the social, political, and cultural activities of the Tłı̨chǫ. ...

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2015
Stories & Legends, Timeline

The Tłįchǫ Government held the first Awards Ceremony on Thursday, January 14th at the Behchoko Culture Centre to celebrate 28 deserving recipients.

Out of the 28 recipients, nine were nominated for their accomplishments as Individuals and Tłı̨chǫ Way of Life.

Chief Executive...

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2016
Timeline

12th Annual Tłı̨chǫ Gathering and 16th Session of the 3rd Tłı̨chǫ Assembly, on July 5, 6 & 7, 2016 in Wekweètì at the Alexis Arrowmaker School Gym. 

The purpose of the Annual Gathering is to bring people together to share in the social, political, and cultural activities of the...

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2017
Timeline

13th Annual Tłı̨chǫ Gathering and 1st Session of the 4th Tłı̨chǫ Assembly, on August 1, 2 & 3, 2017 in Behchokǫ̀ at the Kǫ̀ Gocho Centre

The purpose of the Annual Gathering is to bring people together to share in the social, political, and cultural activities of the Tłı̨chǫ. 

... read more