Chief Harry Deneron

The Acho Dene Koe - People of the Liard Valley

Our Tradition (text courtesy of http://www.adkcorporategroup.com )

We have been the People of this land for generations. And the People came from miles to meet here, to feast and share, at least once each year. There were great gatherings, and the people exchanged ideas, news, wares. The ancient drumming was performed and people danced. Great shouts would welcome People arriving for the gatherings. There were canoes pulled up along the shores, enough canoes, some Elders said, that if they were put together, a person could walk across the Liard River on them.

Archaeological digs at Fisherman's Lake across the river from Fort Liard show strata that indicate 9,000 years of occupancy where Slavey Dene have lived in and looked after the land in this beautiful valley.

In the past, there were trade routes which brought the Tlingit people from what is now British Columbia; they came to trade with us here. We also traded with the Euro-Canadians when they first came to our land. Later, in 1821, when the Hudson Bay Company took over fur trading in this area, the fur trade became a big part of our life. It was the beginning of a big transition for us.

The People were strong in culture and tradition, and independent. Elders kept the knowledge and traditions and passed these on - this is still done.

Our Transition

We started to trade fur for goods with the Euro-Canadians 200 years ago. In the early years of fur trade, the transition was not so obvious. In many ways we all lived in the same manner. We traveled in the same ways - foot, canoe, dog team. We shared the same problems of obtaining food and substantial shelter, of adapting to seasons; we lived on and off the land. We did not follow our furs away from home. The furs went to others to take downriver to places far away. More of the Euro-Canadians came to live with our People. They brought many things: tools, new kinds of food, fabric, materials for buildings. They also brought alcohol and sickness we had not known before. With the new ways came writing, books, stories of places far away.

Many of the new ways were useful and we adopted them. We were introduced to schooling in the white-style - very different from how we taught our children. There was religion; we heard another interpretation of the Creator. And there were the white medicine ways. These other Canadians brought something called government - very different from the way we used to run things. With the new kind of government, there were laws which were made far away, which we had not had any discussion on.

This modern transition has continued and is still developing.

Today in our community, we maintain many ancient traditions and customs. This helps make our culture stronger as we move towards developing a new form of government incorporating traditional ways, giving us the ability to deal well in the modern world.

Since 1955 our children have been attending school here. Now we teach through Grade 10 and there are classes in Slavey our own People as teachers. A modern health centre and stores are part of our community. So is the new Liard Fuel Centre, a wonderful craft centre, and a new fire hall. Our homes are well built, many of them sturdy, appealing log homes. There are recreation areas. Vehicles of every description help us with our work, in our community or on the land. We have an aircraft company - and we have new drummers learning our ancient rituals.

The Acho Dene of the Liard Valley take our place in the world, ready for the 21st century, secure in our ability to do business and remain strong in our traditions and culture.