04 / Northern Homelands & Community Leadership

Denesuline

Learn about northern lands through the communities whose histories, livelihoods and responsibilities are connected to them.

A fictional woman in a smoked hide dress with dark cape yoke, fringe and moccasins beside a northern lake.

Words of recognition

With Respect.

We honour Denesuline peoples and their enduring relationships with northern Manitoba’s lands, waters and animals. We recognize the strength of communities carrying language and knowledge forward and respect their leadership in the places they call home.

Understanding this relationship

The Land Has Living Communities & Histories.

The Seal River Watershed Alliance introduces Sayisi Dene First Nation at Tadoule Lake and Northlands Denesuline First Nation at Lac Brochet. Its accounts describe continuing relationships with water, caribou and northern homelands.

Sayisi Dene history includes forced relocation to Churchill in 1956 and the community’s establishment at Tadoule Lake in 1973. This history is part of understanding both the harm of colonial decisions and the community’s determination to rebuild.

Sources:Seal River Nations

Language & Learning

Denesuline

Dene is a broader designation used by different peoples; it should not erase the particular Nation or language variety being discussed. The Assembly’s page uses Denesuline, and MFNERC provides a Denesuline section with conversational learning resources.

Sources:Manitoba Assembly Language conversations Seal River Nations

Assembly language source

The Assembly’s statement is its own source material. It is not a translation of our business acknowledgement. Community resources offer further language learning.