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Dogrib Knowledge on Placenames, Caribou and Habitat

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Dogrib Knowledge on Placenames, Caribou and Habitat Re: Dogrib Knowledge on Placenames, Caribou and Habitat STUDY DIRECTOR RELEASE FORM The above publication is the result of a project conducted under the West Kitikmeot / Slave Study. I have reviewed the report and advise that it has fulfilled the requirements of the approved proposal and can be subjected to independent expert review and be considered for release to the public. Study Director Date INDEPENDENT EXPERT REVIEW FORM I have reviewed this publication for scientific content and scientific practices and find the report is acceptable given the specific purposes of this project and subject to the field conditions encountered. Reviewer Date BOARD RELEASE FORM The Study Board is satisfied that this final report has been reviewed for scientific content and approves it for release to the public. Chair West Kitikmeot/Slave Society Date Box 2572, Yellowknife, NT, X1A 2P9 Ph (867) 669-6235 Fax (867) 920-4346 e-mail: [email protected] Home Page: http://www.wkss.nt.ca Box 2572, Yellowknife, NT, X1A 2P9 Ph (867) 669-6235 Fax (867) 920-4346 e-mail: [email protected] Home Page: http://www.wkss.nt.ca DOGRIB KNOWLEDGE ON PLACENAMES, CARIBOU AND HABITAT FINAL REPORT Submitted by Whaèhdôö Nàowoò Kö Dogrib Treaty 11 Council to the West Kitikmeot Slave Study Society Yellowknife, NT July 2002 DOGRIB KNOWLEDGE ON PLACENAMES, CARIBOU AND HABITAT FINAL REPORT Submitted by Whaèhdôö Nàowoò Kö Dogrib Treaty 11 Council to the West Kitikmeot Slave Study Society Yellowknife, NWT July 2002 Project Team: Leslie Saxon, Principal Investigator Sally Anne Zoe, Researcher and GIS Entry Georgina Chocolate, Verification Allice Legat, Project Director DEDICATION This report is dedicated to Madeleine Drybones who passed away on July 10, 2002. We will miss her patience and dedication to Dogrib knowledge. She was always good hearted, giving and never got upset with anyone. She always gave kind words and a story, and welcomed people with a smile. She loved dancing and feasting. In 1992, Madeleine Drybone was one of four elders chosen in Gamètì to create the Whàehdôö Nàowoò Program (Traditional Knowledge and Heritage Program). She was chosen because she was strong in working for the people, telling her Dogrib stories, and living the traditional way of life. She always wanted the stories and the old way to be remembered and used as a tool for living. It was important for her that young people remember and understand Dogrib traditional laws and leadership, and remember how to respect the ancestors and where they are buried, and all the animals and their spirituality. She also wanted all the young people to remember how to travel safely on the water while hunting, fishing, and harvesting on the land. SUMMARY This project is a continuation of the studies funded by the West Kitikmeot Slave Study Society on placenames as indicators of bio-geographical knowledge, and caribou and the state of their habitat. In order to record and document places and placenames in the Dogrib traditional territory, the research team conducted interviews with elders in the Dogrib communities and documented both the placenames and the stories the elders shared. Although the research team wished to conduct additional research on traditional laws and rules associated with caribou and to test a monitoring plan, the elders wished to provide and give more detail on placenames, particularly those associated with water. As originally suggested by the Dogrib Renewable Resources Committee, information on water as well as caribou and heritage must be documented in order to manage and monitor Dogrib lands. One of the main results of the study was that placenames indicate profound knowledge of geography, land formations and waterways in particular. Many of the placenames for waterways indicate water flow, water conditions, watersheds and the relationship between land, water, wildlife, and people. There is also frequent use of landmarks to identify other named places; for example when two or more places in the study area have the same name, landmarks are often used as identifiers. Throughout the report emphasis is placed on the importance of consistent and accurate spellings in the analysis of placenames (for understanding bio-geographical knowledge). Three principles were followed for selecting spellings in order to maintain consistency and accuracy: a) use the principles of Tåîchô Yatiì Enîhtå'è /A Dogrib Dictionary, b) use the spellings that matches the dialect used by people who live in the area of the named place, c) match the spelling to a commonly used pronunciation. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to thank the following individuals and organizations for their support throughout the duration of this project: • The Tåîchô (Dogrib) leadership and elders for their constant support. • Amanda Epp for assisting with the final compilation of the report. • Air Tindi for their patience and help in taking elders and staff to the workshops. • The West Kitikmeot Slave Study Society for the funding with which to document Dogrib placenames. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. OBJECTIVES 1 1.1. Objectives Described in this Report 1 2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION 3 2.1. The People and the Study Area 3 2.2. Methodology and the Research Team 3 3. ACTIVITIES 7 4. RESEARCH RESULTS 10 4.1. Standardized Spellings of Placenames and Bio-Geographical Knowledge 11 4.1.1. Placenames as Indicators of Bio-Geographical Knowledge 11 4.1.2 Principles for Spellings 14 4.1.3. Practicalities of Standardized Spellings for Placenames 16 4.1.4. Conclusions 17 4.2. Geographical Terms Common in Placenames 17 4.2.1. Land forms 19 4.2.2. Waterways 23 4.2.3. Technicalities of Spellings and Etymology (Root Words) 36 4.3. Landmarks in Dogrib Placenames 42 4.3.1. Landmarks in Placenames 43 4.3.2. Landmarks as Identifiers 45 4.3.3. Paired Sites Around a Landmark 48 4.3.4. Landmarks 50 5. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS 52 5.1. Placenames as Indicators of Knowledge of Dè 52 5.2. Water Flow as Indicated in the Dogrib Place Naming System 59 5.2.1. Water Flow Defined by Lakes 59 5.2.2. Watersheds 62 5.2.3. Placename Identifiers and Water Flow 63 5.3 For Future Research 64 6. LINKS WITH PARALLEL STUDIES 66 7. TRAINING ACTIVITIES AND RESULTS 69 8. REFERENCES 70 i APPENDICES APPENDIX 1: PLACENAMES 73 Technical Notes on Glosses 76 Dè Goîzì -- Placenames List 79 APPENDIX 2: DECISIONS ON PLACENAME SPELLINGS 168 APPENDIX 3: SPELLING SYSTEM AND PRONUNCIATION GUIDE 171 LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Some Geographical Terms in the Dogrib Language 18 Table 2: Frequency of Dogrib Placenames Indicating Bio-Geographical Knowledge (Legat et al. 2001:11) 52 Table 3: Frequency of Dogrib Placenames Indicating Knowledge of Dè 54 ii 1. OBJECTIVES The objectives for research were: To continue recording places and placenames1, and analyzing the names for bio- geographical knowledge. To continue documenting habitat. To complete work on traditional laws and rules associated with caribou. To test a monitoring plan which uses Dogrib knowledge and Dogrib harvesters, and which was developed by the Dogrib Regional Elders’ Committee. 1.1. Objectives Described in this Report The elders' emphasis on placenames meant that neither the report on traditional laws2 associated with caribou nor the testing of a monitoring plan were completed. The elders interviewed focused on placenames associated with water, which appear to be the most numerous. In fact this focus demonstrates one of the most important laws -- to know dè so it can be respected and used in appropriate ways. The elders emphasize that if individuals know the placenames they know what to expect and will be able to manage and monitor traditional lands. This direction is consistent with the Dogrib Renewable Resources Committee’s 1995 priorities -- they insisted that information on water as well as caribou, habitat, and heritage must be documented. One of the main results of this study is that placenames indicate profound knowledge of geography, land formations and waterways in particular. Many of the names of 1 The word for 'placename' in the Dogrib language is dè goîzì. This means 'land's name' according to its root words. 2 Examples of the rules and laws documented to date are: know and respect dè (habitat/territory); know the relationship between caribou and other wildlife; respect those who know caribou; respect the caribou by killing only what is needed, can be carried and used; respect the caribou by knowing how to kill it properly, all the parts and how to butcher it; know how to handle the blood of both caribou and humans; respect hunting, butchering, and preparation equipment; think about which caribou you are harvesting and why; share the meat you receive with others; know the relationship each person has with the caribou and the hunter; and respect storage and preparation methods. 1 waterways indicate water flow, water conditions, watersheds, and the relationship between land, water, wildlife, and people. The elders often made comments on how knowledge of water conditions and water flow is important when traveling by boat or in winter for harvesting caribou, and noted placenames that relate to travel in birchbark canoes. In conjunction with the placenames describing water, a large number of the documented placenames are associated with fish or fishing. This is significant for hunting caribou. As discussed in Legat et al (2001) caribou migration and distribution is unpredictable. If hunters camp where the fish are plentiful, people in the camp will have sufficient food until the caribou arrive or until they can move after spring thaw. 2 2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION 2.1. The People and the Study Area The research reported on here was conducted with Dogrib people in the Northwest Territories of Canada through participatory action research (PAR–see section 2.2 below for discussion).
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