“Who are these men, Grandfather?” Grandfather stroked his big whiskers and smiled and said, “the old, white man sitting down and the holding the pen is the Treaty Inspector Conroy and the two men are his assistants. And of course, behind is the Bishop Breynant with some of his missionary friends. Finally, the four holding guns are the North-West Mounted police who travel everywhere with them. They are here to help with our land for hunting and trapping. They are here to help protect what is ours. These are called treaty rights, my son”.
Lisez l’histoire de Tony Liske
Thompson Simpson School, Fort Simpson, NT
Dene First Nation (Dene Dogrib)
Âge 16
I am interested in having the opportunity to participate in the Canadian Aboriginal Youth Writing Challenge for the Dominion Institute and have attached my short story, the author's statement and the letter of support for your review.
Through volunteer, school and travel experience, I have developed the organization and leadership skills necessary to help the young people in my community. Currently, I am in grade ten and enrolled at the Thompson Simpson School in Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories as a full time High School Student. My goal is to be a positive and reliable role model to the youth in my community.
As a young, sixteen year old Aboriginal youth who grew up in Yellowknife and in Rae-Edzo, Northwest Territories, I understand the issues that face aboriginal youth in rural areas. My experience in Edmonton and Calgary raised my awareness of the problems that inner city aboriginal youth face. learning about my Dene history, culture, tradition and values has always fascinated me, so I am eager to learn more about my great- great grandfather's life and shore my knowledge of Aboriginal culture. I believe that my positive outlook on life will also enrich the Aboriginal Youth in my community.
Thank you for inspiring me to take the challenge to research on my Dene History.
Respectfully,
Tony Liske
Letter of Support
The Fort Simpson Justice Committee would like to express their support on behalf of Tony Liske for participating in the Canadian Aboriginal Youth Writing Challenge and being a role model for the youth in our community. We appreciate him sharing his determination to live a good life in spite of temptations and peer pressure.
We wish you success with your endeavours to raise awareness for Aboriginal Youth across Canada to have their voices heard. Thank you for your commitment to encouraging and inspiring the lives of our youth.
Sincerely,
Fort Simpson Justice Committee
Author’s Biography
My name is Tony Liske and I am full Dene Dogrib and a member of Dene First Nation. My grandfather is Antoine Liske and my grandmother is Elise Liske. They have raised me in the culture and tradition of the Dene Dogrib. This important heritage is a part of me and no one will be able to separate me from it. This will carry on to my children’s children.
The forming of Treaties number Eight and Eleven was very beneficial to the Dene First Nations people as it was for the European Settlers.
In the 1800′s and early 1900′s a large number of treaties were made in Canada.
The World Book of Encyclopedia Volume “T” by Field Enterprise Educational Corporation, tell us on page 332, “The King has the power to make treaties.”
At this time Canada was a British Colony and could not make its own treaties because it was not an overseeing nation.
The crown oversaw the forming of treaties between the Canadian government and groups of First Nations people. This helped plans to go ahead for settlement, and for the development of agriculture and natural resources, in western and northern Canada.
Treaty Eight for the 840,000 square kilometres of land in the Athabasca Region, the largest area, was first negotiated in June 1899. This was the first treaty to call Indians and Metis together by the “aboriginal title”.
Treaty Eight is now over one hundred years old but is still very important and very much a part of the lives of the Dene People today as in areas such as trade use of fire arms, education, etc. Under Treaty Eight the Dene are free to hunt and fish without paying for licenses and following the limitations.
Fort Resolution, the place where the Commissioner, the chief and the Headmen first met to make the agreement was also named as the trading point between the Dene People and Majesty’s government. And even to this day, the assemblies for the tribal leaders are held at this historical place.
Earlier treaties had been made by important people in the capital city of Ottawa. Treaty Eight was the first one to be typed in the tent of the Treaty Commissioner, right at Fort Resolution.
Although land rights were given to the Dene People in the late 1800′s, the government also sent British and Canadian expeditions into each area to explore and make an inventory of the natural resources such as oil. The Treaty helps to protect this and other wealthy resources because other people cannot take them without paying or without permission from the First Nations People.
In conclusion, this research has shown me that Treaty Eight is truly beneficial to me as a Dene First Nations Youth. All of the years while I was being raised by my grandparents, I have eaten fish, rabbit, caribou, moose etc that my grandfather and his sons brought home. I lived Tony Liske on the land provided by this treaty, in a house that was renovated and improved by my band. I attended local schools in Yellowknife and Rae-Edzo to get my basic education. I received support to help me pursue further education. I realize that this is a privilege I can enjoy as a Dene Youth.
I hope now to enjoy the benefit of honouring my great-great grandfather Pierre Liske who was a great Fur Trader for the Dene People at Trout Rock and who also attended the great signing of the Treaty Eleven in 1921 in Fort R2e. Secondly, I wish to honour my great-grandfather Antoine Liske who once was a Chief for the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and who was greatly respected for his wisdom and knowledge about his land and people. And finally, I honour my great-uncle Peter Liske, at present the Chief to the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, for the courage and determination in making a difference for our people today.
Masi cho, (meaning thank you in my Dene Language)
The year was 1921 and summer was here. Geese were in. The Little Indian boy lived in Old Fort Rae with his family, and he had a Grandfather, a Mother and a drum. The Little Indian boy’s name was Chekoa Neze meaning “good child”.
His Grandfather was old and wise and his name was Big Pierre. He was tall with big whiskers. He was born in this land in 1883. He had been here a very long time. He had very bad hearing, so bad that sometimes he couldn’t even hear what the Chekoa Neze was saying.
Chekoa Neze rarely saw his Grandfather, because his Grandfather worked a lot out on the trap line at Trout Rock. When the Chekoa Neze came home from school for lunch, his Mother had caribou all boiled up for him. And when he came home after school his Mother had dried meat all ready for him. When his Grandfather came back from the bush he was tired and went right to bed.
His Mother was a special person. She was someone with whom he was always safe, especially when he was scared or hurt. Chekoa Neze loved her very much, but sometimes he would forget to tell her and when he realized it, he used to run and find her and give her a kiss on the cheek. “What a loving boy he is?” said Grandfather.
Chekoa Neze love to play outside with his drum made out of caribou skin. In the winter, Grandfather made the drum with his big hands and showed Chekoa Neze how to play it. This made Grandfather very happy.
One day Grandfather said to him, “Big meeting coming tomorrow, I want you to come with me Chekoa Neze.” He was happy. Holding Grandfather’s big hand and going to this big event was a special time for him.
Chekoa Neze ran to his Mother and told her the good news. Mother told him to take his drum too.
The Chekoa Neze went in his room and started cleaning his drum with caribou fat to make it shiny for the big day. He took out his church clothes and laid them on his wooden chair by his bed so when he got up in the morning it would be all ready for him. He was happy because he could play his drum at the big meeting with his Grandfather. Chekoa Neze wanted to sing and play the drum like his Grandfather.
Grandfather had a good life in the bush. His father taught him to live good and how to survive in the bush. His Mother taught him to cook and respect the land of the Dene People. And Grandfather wanted the same good life for Chekoa Neze.
After Chekoa Neze finished with his drum, he went outside to help Grandfather carry the wood inside. Grandfather stopped and looked at Chekoa Neze and told him, “Tomorrow special men are coming to our village to talk about land and then we are going to sign our names on the paper so our children can have a good life”. Checkoa Neze did not understand why special men wanted to talk about this land when it was already ours. He was thinking how the old Grandfathers used to talk about how they needed to take care of their land and pass it on to their children to take care of. Chekoa Neze wanted to learn the more about land.
The next morning the sun shone brightly with clear blue skies. Grandfather came into Chekoa Neze’s room and gently woke him up whispering softly into his ear that it was time to go. Chekoa Neze jumped out of bed and changed into his church clothes ready for the big day. He ran to his mother, held her for a long time and said, “Mother, today is a big day for me and time for me to go”.
Grandfather and Chekoa Neze ate rabbit soup for breakfast with fish egg bannock that mother made before she went to bed. It was good and tasty. Grandfather’s favourite soup.
Grandfather grabbed Chekoa Neze’s hand and went out the door to the big meeting, which was held in a big white tent by the lake. As they were walking to the big tent, Grandfather’s old friends and family were walking the same way. There were lots of people. Chekoa Neze saw many of his friends too.
The white tent seemed so big. He saw four men wearing red, black and yellow clothes waiting outside the tent. They each carried a gun. Inside he saw an old man with white skin sitting behind a table. He had on a black coat and in his hand was a small skinny black stick. He had white paper in front of them on the table. Beside him sat two younger men with white skin wearing black. Behind them was Bishop Breynant from Fort Providence. “I remembered him how he would sometimes come to our school and talk about God in our language. I was so happy to see him” thought Chekoa Neze.
Chekoa Neze tugged on the Grand Father’s hand because he wanted to know who those special men were. Grandfather looked down at Chekoa Neze and said, “Yes, my Chekoa Neze?” Chekoa Neze said, “Who are these men, Grandfather?” Grandfather stroked his big whiskers and smiled and said, “the old, white man sitting down and the holding the pen is the Treaty Inspector Conroy and the two men are his assistants. And of course, behind is the Bishop Breynant with some of his missionary friends. Finally, the four holding guns are the North-West Mounted police who travel everywhere with them. They are here to help with our land for hunting and trapping. They are here to help protect what is ours. These are called treaty rights, my son”.
The Chekoa Neze shrugged and looked around. He saw many Indian people sitting on the grass waiting for their turn to sign their name on the big white paper. On the other side of the tent, the Chekoa Neze could hear drumming and laughing. He let go of Grandfather’s hand and ran towards the sound of the drumming and laughing. He let go of Grandfather’s hand and ran towards the sound of the drumming and laughing. He let go of Grandfather’s hand and ran towards the sound of the drumming. As he got closer he could see there was a big gathering of white people and Indian people around. The old and the young were playing handgames. This was a funny game. It was like playing hide-and-go-seek with singing and laughing. The drums started rolling and the old chanting song began. The song they were singing was of their land and animals. The men started hiding their sticks under the caribou hide and singing and drumming at the same time. The game could last for a short time or a long time. I looked around and the people were happy and laughing. I was happy.
I ran back to Grandfather and he was signing his name on the white paper. I stood beside him as I watched the special men smiling and thanking Grandfather for signing the paper. As we slowly made our way from the table, I grabbed my drum from Grandfather’s belt and started softly drumming the land song. I knew at that moment that this day was the day of sorrow and happiness. I knew my Grandfather was happy but was quiet for he knew this was the start of new beginnings for me. This land was ours and would always be ours. I ended the song and then my Grandfather picked up his drum and joined the other Grandfathers singing in victory and triumph over this land!