The Dene Medicine booklet includes Dene laws, medicines, safety checklists and information for preparing to be out on the land, according to a news release
Dene National Chief Norman Yakeleya says the knowledge included in the booklet comes from Elders across Denendeh.
“Colonialism has meant that so much of our traditional knowledge has been lost,” he says. “It’s imperative that we do everything in our power to revitalize our nationhood, and to do this, we must begin by listening to our Elders’ teachings, practicing our traditions, and following our protocols”.
Chief Yakeleya encouraged families to go out in the bush as a way to isolate during the COVID-19 pandemic. With school over, he says he hopes the booklet will “further encourage on-the-land healing.”
“By providing Dene Medicine,” he said, “we hope that those who may have been hesitant to begin their journey towards our old ways of knowing are supported with the knowledge of our laws, medicines, and protocols through this resource. Eventually, we hope those that who use it will pass on their teachings to the next seven generations and will contribute to one of the many iterations we hope our guidebook has.”
