Bringing people together on the sacred site of the Wiìliìdeh

The weekend’s Xat’ǫ̀ (Fall) Gathering brought together community members from across the North in a celebration of connection, culture, and resilience at the sacred Wiìliìdeh site.

CKLB’s Stacie Arden Smith had the chance to chat with one of the organizers, and Yellowknives Dene First Nation (YKDFN) council members, Anastassia Judas, as she reflected on the gathering’s purpose, the lessons learned from the previous year, and the collective effort that went into making this year’s event a success.

With 72 handgames teams registered and participants traveling from across the Northwest Territories, Yukon, Northern Alberta, and Northern BC, the gathering provided an opportunity to reconnect with one another, honour children lost to residential schools, and create a space where elders, families, and youth could experience joy and community.

Despite a few logistical challenges, the strong turnout and spirit of participation demonstrated the importance of continuing to build and strengthen these connections.

CKLB: “Please tell us what was the undertaking of getting this organized?”

Anastassia Judas: “A lot of hard work and dedication. We started talking about it, I think, last year after our last fall gathering was such a success, and this year it came from a discussion amongst members and people that were part of the committee last year to talk about what went right last year, some things that didn’t quite work last year, and yeah, just kind of took off from there. Deciding, you know, how are we gonna make this year another success?”

CKLB: “And it looks like a huge success thus far. You’re part of the YKDFN Council. How many other council members participated in being the organizing committee?”

Anastassia Judas: “Ooh, I can’t say for sure how many, but I feel like most of the council members are part of it in one way or the other. Whether it’s part of the hand games committee or just doing announcements, being part of just like volunteering here and there, being part of the elders’ tent, doing the raffle tables, yeah, I can’t say for sure how many of us. I feel like most of us are involved in some way or the other.”

CKLB: “Well, that’s excellent. I mean, that’s community leadership in itself. Now, from your perspective, what is the importance of this gathering?”

Anastassia Judas: “Yeah. So when we first started talking about having a hot tong gathering last year, it was all about bringing people together in this sacred site at the Wiilideh site where our ancestors used to gather in the fall time before the winter season came, where they would dry their meat, they would gather their materials and food for the you know long winter seasons, and it was also to remember our children that got taken away from us during residential schools to kind of bring that resilience back to our communities, not only to us as Wiìliìdeh people, but to all other communities that have struggled with residential schools. You know, the colonization that came along with that. So yeah, just really bringing that traditional gathering back together, and just to have that bit of joy back into our lives, you know, because I think Fall is a really hard time for a lot of our Elders and the people that are were taken away as children. So it just gives us a bit of resilience to you know gather and just have a good time together.”

CKLB: “I love that making it a positive experience rather than the negative that it was. Off the top of your head, do you know how many teams have registered, and from whereabouts are some of these teams?”

Anastassia Judas: “Yeah, so I was actually part of the registration volunteer team. So I was here Thursday evening from four to 8 pm. Surprisingly, we had 72 teams register all over the Northwest Territories. We even had some from the Yukon, from Northern Alberta, from Northern BC, Fort Nelson, all over the place. So we’re so happy that you know we’re able to see all these people come together and all the children even doing their own little hand games on the side. It’s so nice to see everybody from all over the place. Really, really great turnout.”

CKLB: “That is amazing, and it has been an incredible turnout thus far. I do note that,  you know,  we did have a few hiccups. I was here during Firestone Band, and as soon as they started, the power went out, and I mean, that was one big bang for sure.”

Anastassia Judas: “Yeah, yeah, yeah. I don’t think we’ve ever had a live band on site. If we have, I’m not sure what type of power generation they had for them, but that was a first for me as well. But I think it just goes to show, like no matter like what the little hiccups that we have seen all weekend, it just we’ve been able to just move past it, and you know something to think about for next year. But when and you know everybody knows that there’s not great service out here as well. But I think it’s nice that you know people are not constantly on their phones all day. You know, texting or on the phone or whatever, and or on social media. It’s just nice to be here in the moment, enjoy the drums, yeah, and just be able to visit with others that you don’t normally see all year long.”

CKLB: “Most definitely, and I think that’s what just makes this gathering that much more is that there’s no distractions other than being present in the moment. So I want to say a great big thank you for putting the gathering together. It’s very much appreciated.”

Anastassia Judas: “Mahsi! Yes, very happy to see you as well, and I hope you stay right till the end. Hopefully, we’ll have one last drum dance before the before the end of the night, and we get through all these games as quick as possible. Ah, that is the hope. Mahsi, Mahsi Cho.”

Stacie Arden Smith/Native Communications Society of the NWT/Local Journalism Initiative