Dene Today and Tomorrow
This compilation episode revisits a few of the characters from Dene A Journey as they reflect on their experiences and what they’ve learned. Highlights of each trip are touched on, giving the viewer a taste of the North and how the show has changed the lives of the characters.
EPISODE 6
Dene Today and Tomorrow
This compilation episode revisits a few of the characters from Dene A Journey as they reflect on their experiences and what they’ve learned. Highlights of each trip are touched on, giving the viewer a taste of the North and how the show has changed the lives of the characters.
“We might be all urban but it’s important for us to reconnect to the land, reconnect to our people and it might help us move forward as a nation.”
- Tania Larsson
Dene A Journey takes a few very special people back to the land, helps them re-discover their culture and find the connection they’ve been missing with their ancestors that have lived in the north for thousands of years.
The landscape changes dramatically as you travel across the Northwest Territories. From the jutting cliffs and other-worldly-ness of the east-arm of Great Slave Lake, the humbling canyons and waterfalls in Nahanni National Park, to the vast expanse of the tundra in the Western Arctic.
The first season of Dene A Journey takes us on a road-trip down the Dempster Highway, flying bush planes, paddling canoes and driving snowmobiles across the north from Yellowknife to Behchoko to Deline and Fort McPherson. We experience a moose hunt, traditional bush camping, tanning a caribou hide, beading, bannock making, jigging and stories and language lessons from elders right alongside the individuals featured in our show.
In preserving our history through language and story telling, we are making a commitment to building a stronger future for our children. Join us in this journey.
Mason Mantla
Mason is a Tłįchǫ filmmaker and musician from Behchokǫ̀. At 20, Mason has spent the last two years trying to reconnect himself with the Tłįchǫ culture and language. He is the father of a three year-old and has high hopes for the future of his community.
Tania and Nina Larsson
Tania and Nina Larsson were born in France to a Gwichin mother and Swedish father. Despite having grown up in Europe, the Larsson sisters never felt like they belonged. The desire to find this sense of belonging led them to eventually move to Yellowknife from France, where they are now continually seeking out ways to re-connect with their culture. Both are currently taking Gwichin language classes in Yellowknife.
Leela Gilday
Leela Gilday is a Juno Award winning singer/songwriter from Deline. After living in southern Canada for 15 years, Leela Gilday moved back to her hometown of Yellowknife, where she has now been living for over a year. In the past few years, Leela has spent time in Deline learning to make dry meat, dry fish and recording old time Dene Love songs. She has not yet worked on a moose hide and is looking forward to the experience.