Traditional hunting and trapping trails have been in use in the Northwest Territories since time immemorial. The Sahtu Dene, who live within the vicinity of Great Bear Lake, have been using traditional trails established by their grandparents and great-grandparents to hunt and trap throughout the region as a primary source of cultural livelihood and income. A diverse range of species, including beaver, lynx, and marten, are all essential furbearers to the seasonal trapping cycle. Moose represent the largest source of traditionally acquired nutritional support for families living in the north, and are hunted during the winter and spring months. The relationship that the Dene maintain with the landscape by hunting and trapping secures connections to cultural spaces and cultivates opportunities for future generations to learn about and experience the land.

 

Increasing interests in industrial development taking place in the Northwest Territories make it essential to designate and protect areas of importance to the Dene people. The purpose of this project is to identify spaces of potential cultural and economic importance to the Sahtu Dene and suggest critical areas to be considered for protection amid negotiations for resource development.