Laws of the Land (Dene)
Vocabulary:
ultimateegalitarianismconsensus
ostracizedformidablehierarchical
According to the Dene legend, Yamoria was sent by the Creator to teach The People the rules of the Universe which would guide their lives and bring harmony to the natural environment. Dene civilization was based on these "laws of the land," and the wisdom of nature was the ultimate guide to right or wrong. Under these laws of nature, groups of inter-related peoples formed clans and lived in peace for centuries in Denedeh:
People lived under one law, a long time ago. Everything was good; it was the best form of government. Everything was sacred and to be respected; Yedariyé, the Creator, gave the laws to The People. Up here in the forest country, God put the laws for The People to see and follow: on the trees, on the water, on the flowers, in the Universe. When things are wrong, nature will tell us we’re not living in a good way, like air and water pollution, today.
The Creator gave us all the things we need to survive. Our life reminds us of a flower that is put on the earth, in a special place. That place where the flower is standing is its home. Nature had provided everything for it to survive. The sun comes up and it is warm; its petals open up and reveals itself as best it can be. It’s a comfortable place and it has a right to be there, just like us. It reminds us that we, too, like to be comfortable in this world, have wood for our fires, a home, food on our tables. Yedariyé gave us all these things, to survive (Harvey Scanie).
The Dene nations of the Mackenzie Valley evolved a system of government that emphasized egalitarianism and consensus building. Decisions were made over the council fire, and all members of the circle had the right to express opinions. Influence over others was not gained by loud voices, hierarchical status, or wielding authority. Instead, the K’alther’s or headman’s authority was based on his wisdom, abilities, and knowledge in each particular circumstance. Therefore, in matters of hunting, the most skilled hunter or perhaps the person with the greatest medicine power might attain leadership. In time of war, a "war chief" was selected. In other times, the wisdom of the Elders, whether man or woman, often exerted the greatest degree of authority:
The land was their land; nobody was a chief. The People lived the way they wanted. There were no such things as chiefs. Men were equal. Usually a woman was chosen to be the leader of a group that traveled together. This woman usually was the most knowledgeable about the land. The group would combine their food and eat together. If someone did not have something, others shared. The People helped one another (Victoria Mercredi).
True leadership in Aboriginal culture comes with age, a quiet voice, and humility. In sharp contrast, European leadership has often been defined by power, aggression and hierarchical status. Aboriginal wisdom regarding leadership is expressed in the following thoughts of an Apache Dene Elder:
He did not have to raise his voice, because others listened better; they came closer and bowed to hear. He had to say less because they gave him attention.... The man who speaks loudly or emphasizes with blows has not earned his place, even if he occupies the place of a leader. He has stolen it or it has fallen his way by chance. Sooner or later he will lose it and sink back where he belongs ("Indian Wisdom," 1932: 103).
The system of self-government within the Denendeh honoured the individual rights of its members and emphasized shared decision making of the circle. There were no prisons, and only for extreme offenses, such as murder, was a clan member ostracized. Theft of property was dealt with simply by confronting the person and requiring that the belongings be returned to the rightful owner. When disputes among young men became physical, their wrestling matches seldom escalated into more serious violence. The Dene people’s love of harmony and disdain for "making the earth red with man’s blood" exerted proper limits on these young men’s behaviors.
Though occasional conflict always arises amongst neighbors, the Dene were a peace loving people, possessing a cooperative spirit and willingness to resolve issues without violence.
The land and resources belonged to all and were to be shared by all its creatures. The concept of ownership of land was foreign to this civilization, which recognized that mankind’s role was to take gentle care of Earth’s abundance. With respect and gratitude, these gifts of life would be transferred to future generations. In a land of low population density and unlimited resources, there was little need to struggle for territorial supremacy or dominance over other cultures. The law of the land centered on mutual respect and a willingness to help in times of scarcity. Therefore, in times of need, it was perfectly acceptable to hunt in another clan’s traditional territory. No compensation or formal agreement was required, for it was accepted knowledge that this relationship was reciprocal.
Territorial boundaries were undefined, flexible, and often overlapping. Indeed, many of the great seasonal gathering places were located in areas of overlapping territories, resulting in frequent inter-marriages and substantial sharing of cultural knowledge. These gatherings interlocked Denendeh like gears in the ancient wheel of life. Though The People were separated by formidable geographical boundaries such as the Rocky Mountains and expansive Barren Lands, the lakes and rivers connected their trade routes, and their common language defined the nation’s boundaries. In the final analysis, the ancient land of Denendeh was a loosely connected federation of states possessing all the necessary attributes of a distinct country.
(Cautu, Phillip R. and Lorraine Hoffman-Mercredi, 1999, p. 61. Reprinted with permission from Thunderwoman Ethnographics.)