Our Whole Gwich’in Way of Life Has Changed / Gwich’in K’yuu Gwiidandài’ Tthak Ejuk Gòonlih

Life-stories of 23 Gwich’in Elders from the Northwest Territories in Canada speak to changing times.

Our Whole Gwich’in Way of Life Has Changed / Gwich’in K’yuu Gwiidandài’ Tthak Ejuk Gòonlih is an invaluable compilation of historical and cultural information based on a project originally conceived by the Gwich’in Social and Cultural Institute to document the biographies of the oldest Gwich’in Elders in the Gwich’in Settlement Region. Through their own stories, twenty-three Gwich’in Elders from the Northwest Territories communities of Fort McPherson, Tsiigehtshik, Inuvik, and Aklavik share their joy of living and travelling on the land. Their distinctive voices speak to their values, world views, and knowledge, while McCartney assists by providing context and background on the lives of the narrators and their communities. Scholars, students, and all those interested in Canadian/Northern history, anthropology, Indigenous Studies, oral history, or cultural geography will benefit from this critical resource.
Elders Who Contributed Their Stories: Antoine Andre, Caroline Andre, Hyacinthe Andre, Annie Benoit, Pierre Benoit, Sarah Bonnetplume, Marka Bullock, Lydia Alexie Elias, Mary Martha Firth, Sarah Ann Gardlund, Elizabeth Greenland, Violet Therese Jerome, Peter Kay Sr., Mary Rose Kendi, Ruby Anne McLeod, Catherine Martha Mitchell, Eunice Mitchell, Joan Ross Nazon, Annie Moses Norbert, Alfred Semple, Sarah Simon, Ellen Catherine Vittrekwa, Jim Julius Vittrekwa

Contents

Foreword ix
Acknowledgements xi
Introduction xv
1 | Sarah (Stewart) Simon, cm 1
2 | Sarah (Mitchell) Bonnetplume 63
3 | Hyacinthe Andre 71
4 | Annie (Koe) Benoit 121
5 | Joan (Husky) Ross Nazon 139
6 | Violet Therese (Cardinal) Jerome 177
7 | Mary Rose (Koe) Kendi 181
8 | Sarah Ann (Firth) Gardlund 247
9 | Peter Kay Sr. 269
10 | Catherine Martha (Stewart) Mitchell 285
11 | Lydia (Vittrekwa Vaneltsi Neyando) Alexie Elias 315
12 | Elizabeth (Bonnetplume) Greenland 337
13 | Ellen Catherine (Wilson) Vittrekwa 359
14 | Eunice (Gà’ahdoh) Mitchell 365
15 | Alfred Semple 401
16 | Annie (Niditchie) Moses Norbert 441
17 | Pierre Benoit 455
18 | Jim Julius Vittrekwa 489
19 | Antoine Andre 503
20 | Marka (Andre) Bullock 547
21 | Mary Martha (Robert) Firth 571
22 | Ruby Anne (Stewart) McLeod 581
23 | Caroline (Kendo) Andre 599
24 | Marie Therese Remy-Sawyer 617
25 | Listen to What I’m Saying 621
Appendix: Transcribing and (Re)Constructing the Elders’ Stories 639
Further Reading 655
Endnotes 659
Index 669