Plains bison in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan. The bison was a source of wealth for the Dene people, providing not only food but also materials for clothing, tools, and shelter — all essential to their way of life.
Written by Lauren-Rose Stunell
Denendeh: “The Creator’s Spirit Flows Through This Land”
The Dene traditionally lived in a region of central and northwestern Canada known as Denendeh, which translates to “the Creator’s Spirit flows through this Land” or “Land of the People.” This phrase illustrates the belief that the land is not a commodity but a living entity with spiritual significance.
The traditional territory of the Dene spans much of northern Canada, including the Mackenzie River Valley and the Barren Grounds (now known as the Northwest Territories), and moves into Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. In Saskatchewan, the Denesuliné — the Dene of Northern Saskatchewan — are primarily located in communities such as La Loche, Black Lake, and Fond-du-Lac. They have lived in these parts of the province for thousands of years.
After Cree, Dene is the most widely spoken Indigenous language in Saskatchewan. It belongs to the Athapascan group of the Na-Dené linguistic family. Dialects of Dene, such as the Denesuliné dialect (also known as Chipewyan), can be understood by speakers of Navajo in the southwestern United States!
Much like many other Indigenous languages, Dene is tied to the environment, with vocabulary and expressions that reflect the deep relationship between the people and the land. Specific words describe not just physical landscapes but also the spiritual feelings in those places. Dene is so much more than just a means of communication. It lives and breathes the culture, spirituality, and intelligence of the Dene worldview.
Descriptions in Dene
Many words and phrases in Dene are highly descriptive with so much special meaning behind them. For instance, terms for animals, plants, and land often incorporate observations about their behaviour, appearance, or role in the ecosystem. This linguistic richness helps preserve Indigenous ecological knowledge, which has been passed down through generations. This is also something that we don’t typically see in common languages such as English, and therefore provides a deeper understanding of the meaning of languages and the importance of protecting them.
Animals are often featured in Dene narratives, serving as both teachers and relatives, offering valuable lessons on living in harmony with the natural world. Incorporating animal stories into sharing Indigenous worldviews is a terrific way to encourage younger learners and help them better understand the importance of Truth and Reconciliation in a way that is accessible to them. Today, the Dene people in Saskatchewan continue to be a vibrant and active part of their communities. They continue to practice their traditions of hunting, fishing, and storytelling, while also contributing to the modern social and political landscape of the province, including language revitalization.
Animal Match-It… in Dene!
Introduction/Description
This animal Match-It activity is an engaging game that can be used with learners of all ages, from young to adult. It is designed to help students familiarize themselves with the names of animals in the Dene language. The game involves matching Dene animal names with their English and/or French equivalents using images, making it an interactive and fun way to learn. Educators can use the flashcards with Dene words on one side with an image and another card with the words in English and French or another target language. Participants can work in pairs or groups, discussing and matching the words, while also practicing pronunciation and deepening their understanding of Dene culture.
Please note that each dialect of Dene is unique and words vary slightly depending on the specific Dene community, but the flashcards give a good representation of animals in the language. These words also reflect the deep connection that the Dene have with nature and the animals integral to their culture.
Activity Sequence
The goal of this game is to match Dene animal names with their corresponding target language translations. This activity helps learners familiarize themselves with the Dene language while also practicing target language animal vocabulary.
Teachers will need to print out the flash cards and cut them out before the game begins. The flash cards provided include the animal names in Dene, English, and French, but teachers can replace the English/French cards with equivalents in a different target language.
The game must be played on a flat surface where all participants have access to the cards. Before playing, shuffle all the flashcards and place them face down in a grid format.
Each player takes turns turning over two cards at a time, trying to find a matching pair: one card with the animal name in Dene, one card with the same animal name in the target language.
How to Play
- Turn Over Two Cards:
On each player’s turn, they will turn over two cards, one at a time, to try to find a match. They should say the words on the cards aloud, practicing the pronunciation of both the Dene word and the English/French word. You can find the correct pronunciation of the Dene words here. - Check for a Match:
If the two cards match (i.e., the same animal name in Dene and English/French), the player keeps the matched cards. If they don’t match, the player will flip them back face down in their original positions. - Continue Taking Turns:
Play continues clockwise with each player flipping two cards on their turn. Players should try to remember where each word is located to help them find matches more easily as the game progresses. - Winning the Game:
The game continues until all the cards have been matched. The player with the most pairs of matching cards at the end of the game is the winner.
Concluding and Extending the Activity
If you are an educator of older or adult learners or pre-service teachers, you may choose to challenge students to make sentences using the animal words in Dene and English/French once they find a match. This helps reinforce vocabulary in context and gives pre-service teachers an opportunity to explore an activity for their future students. The activity can also be extended for all audiences by asking students to describe the animals in their target language but introducing the animal in Dene. Integrating their growth as language learners with their commitment to Truth and Reconciliation through education and incorporating Indigenous Ways of Knowing is always a wonderful lesson.
