We Remember the Coming of the White Man

Author et al, Sarah Stewart
Publisher Calgary: Durvile Publications

A work in progress since the 1970s, We Remember the Coming of the White Man chronicles the history of the Dene People in the extraordinary time of the early 20th century. Chapters are transcripts of oral histories of ten Elders and revolve around their recollections of the early days of fur trading and guns; missionaries and the flu epidemic; dismay about the way oil and uranium discoveries were handled on their land; and the emotional and economic fallout of the signing of Treaty 11. The book is rich with photographs, and Elders’ stories are in English and Dene Gwich’in. Bundled with the book is a redux DVD version of Raymond Yakeleya’s stunning 1976 film We Remember, complete with director’s commentary.