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Antoine Mountain
Guest columnist
Monday, March 31, 2008
I would like to put in a word here about the Norman Wells museum in the hub of activity in the Sahtu Region.
Over the years I have heard a lot about the Norman Wells Historical Centre and so was looking forward to finding out what all the fuss was about.
I had my chance last fall, on my back from a week-long artists of the Sahtu workshop in Tulita. Let me tell you folks, I was not disappointed! Right from when I entered there was a smiling face, then another, including one belonging to the manager, Peggy Pouw.
There are many displays within of the history of the Bear Lake region, with historical photographs to go with the stories of the Canol Trail, for instance, and real items used by our Dene ancestors, who at the time were still travelling by dog team, in the mountains, rivers and lake countries.
There is a lot to see, and from what I understand there have been a few tours of Canol Trail, which, incidentally, was made by the U.S. Army to build an oil pipeline to help fuel its Second World War efforts.
As I have mentioned a couple of times, too, I actually grew up right where this Canol Trail starts, across from Norman Wells. We had a two-storey log house across the Duhogah, the Mackenzie River, almost right opposite from the Wells, as this place is commonly called.
Eventually, and quite a few years later my father moved that house to his present Chief Charlie's Paradise, about 20 miles upriver from Radilih Koe/Fort Good Hope.
This is where it now serves as a hunting lodge, where he takes big-game hunters out on the land, and also where he helps out troubled teens. This love of the land is what really marks us as Dene people, human beings.
I have always been in support of the history of the North, and earlier worked on setting up a Dene museum/library in Radilih Koe/Fort Good Hope. We also did a lot of work to provide curriculum material for the Department of Education.
But, what also greatly impressed me with the Norman Wells Historical Centre is that it has a Dene elder on staff, in the able-bodied person of Edward Oudzi. He is as cheerful as they come, and originally from Kahbamiue/Colville Lake.
He even built a traditional trapper's cabin right there on the site of the museum and helps out with taking the school children from Mackenzie Mountain school on the land to learn the techniques that go with life on the land.
I am certain the children who are now learning his survival lessons will always remember how to set snares and will be glad for this ability.
There will come a time, too, friends, when we will have to fend for ourselves the way our ancestors did. Our Dene prophets have said so.
For now, too, I am glad that the GNWT's Department of Industry, Tourism and Investments is backing these efforts to preserve our collective histories.
- Antoine Mountain is a Dene artist and writer originally from Radilih Koe'/Fort Good Hope. He can be reached at www.amountainarts.com