We Remember the Coming of the White Man
Dene Elders tell the history of their times
Elizabeth Yakeleya
Sarah Simon
Read byLeanne Goose
Trent Agecoutay
Lorene Shyba
Colette Poitras
A work in progress since the 1970s, We Remember the Coming of the White Man chronicles the history of the Sahtú (Mountain Dene) and Gwinch’in People in the extraordinary time of the early 20th century. Chapters are transcripts of oral histories by ten Elders about their recollections of the early days of fur trading, guns, and flu pandemic; dismay about the way oil and uranium discoveries and pipelines were handled on their land; and the emotional and economic fallout of the signing of Treaty 11. Rich with photographs, Elders’ stories are in English and Dene Gwich’in. Bundled with the book is a remastered DVD version of Raymond Yakeleya’s stunning 1978 film We Remember, with director’s commentary. For more info, excerpts from the book and film clips, https://durvile.com/books/We_Remember.html
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About the author
Elizabeth Yakeleya
Deceased. Elizabeth Yakeleya (nee Blondin) a Willow Lake Dene, was born in 1906 in Norman Wells (Tlegohli) and was educated at the convent in Fort Providence (Zhahti Koe). In 1925 she married Johnny Yakeleya and they had twelve children.
Sarah Simon
Deceased. Sarah Simon (nee Stewart), Gwich’in, was born in the Delta on the Mackenzie River (Deh Cho) in 1901. She married James Simon, who was later ordained an Anglican minister. Sarah travelled with James to Yukon as a missionary and served her people for many years as a mid-wife, nurse and interpreter. She translated for government officials, doctors and for her Chief, Johnny Kaye. In June 1982 she received the Commissioner’s Award for her service to her people and community. Sarah Simon died in 2001. She was 100 years old.