Sayisi Dene facts for kids

The Sayisi Dene are an Indigenous group of people. Their name means 'People under the Sun' or 'People of the East'. They are part of the Chipewyan people, who are a larger Dene group. The Sayisi Dene live in northern Manitoba, Canada.

They are officially known as the Sayisi Dene First Nation. This group used to be called the Churchill Indian Band. Their main community is at Tadoule Lake (58°42′43″N 98°28′50″W / 58.71194°N 98.48056°W / 58.71194; -98.48056). The Sayisi Dene are known for their traditional way of life. They used to move around, hunting caribou and gathering food. They are the most eastern group of all the Dene peoples.

In 1956, the Sayisi Dene living at Little Duck Lake (59°24′46.09″N 97°44′1.2″W / 59.4128028°N 97.733667°W / 59.4128028; -97.733667) were forced to move. They were relocated to Churchill, Manitoba. Many people believe this move was a big mistake by the Canadian government. It caused a lot of hardship for the Sayisi Dene.

Who Are the Sayisi Dene?

The Chipewyan people, including the Sayisi Dene, have a long history. Their traditional lands stretched from Hudson Bay westwards. This area included parts of northern Manitoba and the southern Northwest Territories. It also covered northern Alberta and northern Saskatchewan.

Chipewyan people lived in different groups called bands. Some bands lived near the port of Churchill, Manitoba. Others lived by the North Knife River, north of Churchill. Another group lived in the Barren Lands near Nueltin Lake.

The "Duck Lake Dene" band settled near Little Duck Lake. This happened when European traders arrived. They called their trading post "Caribou Post." This was because it was close to where caribou migrated.

Life at Little Duck Lake

Some Chipewyan bands started trading furs and hunting. But the Duck Lake Dene continued to focus on hunting caribou. The number of caribou changed a lot over the years. Between 1942 and 1955, Canadian officials noticed fewer caribou.

The Duck Lake Dene were sometimes called "Caribou-eater Chipewyan" by Europeans. Some people wrongly thought the Dene's hunting was causing the caribou decline.

Forced Move to Churchill

In the mid-1900s, the caribou population dropped. It went from about 670,000 animals in 1942 to 277,000 by 1955. The Manitoba Government later said that the decision to move the Dene was based on wrong ideas. Wildlife officials thought the Dene's hunting was harming the caribou. But the caribou herd was actually healthy.

Also, the Hudson's Bay Company wanted to close its trading post nearby. It was not making as much money as before. So, in 1956, the Canadian and Manitoba governments decided to move the Duck Lake Dene. They were moved away from their caribou lands to Churchill, Manitoba. Other Chipewyan Dene already lived there.

For 20 years, the Little Duck Lake band lived in tents and shacks. They were on the edge of Churchill. Around 1967, the government built a housing project for them. It was called "Dene Village." But moving from a traditional hunting life to city life was very hard. About one-third of the "Churchill Chipewyan" people died. This was a direct result of being moved to Churchill.

Returning Home to Tadoule Lake

By 1969, some Duck Lake Dene wanted to return to their old way of life. They wanted to be self-reliant again. A few families moved to North Knife Lake in 1969. More families left Churchill and moved to South Knife Lake in 1971.

In 1973, these families came together. They moved north and started a new community. This new home was at Tadoule Lake (pronounced Ta-doo-lee). The name means "floating ashes" in the Dene language.

Tadoule Lake is one of the most northern and isolated places in Manitoba. You can only reach it by plane, snowmobile, or canoe. The nearest train link is 250 kilometers away in Churchill. The community is near the wild Seal River. It is also within the winter home of the Qaminuriak Caribou Herd.

The Sayisi Dene now have about 360 people. It has been hard, but they are trying to return to their traditional hunting and trapping ways. By the 1990s, the Duck Lake Dene felt successful in their new home. They changed their official name to "Sayisi Dene First Nation (Tadoule Lake, Manitoba)."

Ila Bussidor, a former Chief of the Sayisi Dene First Nation, wrote a book in 1997. It was called Night Spirits, The Story of the Relocation of the Sayisi Dene. This book tells the story of their difficult journey. It describes their move from Little Duck Lake to Churchill and then to Tadoule Lake. Ila Bussidor said that for her people, the move caused immense suffering and many deaths. It deeply harmed their community.

In 2010, Manitoba promised the Sayisi Dene over 13,000 acres of land. This was to help make up for the effects of the relocation.

Government Apology

On August 16, 2016, a big step was taken. Carolyn Bennett, the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, apologized to the Sayisi Dene people. She apologized for their forced move from Little Duck Lake to Churchill in 1956. The government also offered $33.6 million in compensation.

When the Sayisi Dene were first moved, promises of support were made. But these promises were not kept. By 1973, when the government helped them move again, 117 of the 250 people had died.

Language and Culture

The Sayisi Dene speak the Dene Suline language. This language is part of the Athabaskan language family. Teaching their language to children and young adults is very important to them. Many young people learned English while in Churchill.

Elder Betsy Anderson shared a special saying in their language: