Dane Gibson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Mar 29/99) - George Blondin's talent came from his Dene ancestors. The art of story-telling is something alive in his lineage, something passed down from past generations.

"When I was a small boy, my grandparents and parents told stories. I believe those stories were hundreds of thousands of years old. They're stories I never forgot," Blondin said.

After publishing three books, the respected Sahtu region author thought he could hang up his pen. But a fourth book called to him, one he didn't want to write at first. But after spending a year trying to define medicine power, he decided the book must be written.

He started by asking why medicine power is no longer in use and discovered that to answer the question, he would have to go back to the dawn of time.

"Something that lasted for hundreds of thousands of years and was practised worldwide must have a purpose. That purpose is what I went in search of," Blondin said. "The aboriginals say human beings came from the animals. They say medicine power existed before people. Now, medicine power has been extinguished, replaced by science power. People don't believe now."

His research led him to elders, university professors and libraries. In the end, the theory that evolved out of his effort is global in scope.

He estimates 10 per cent of the world's population could access medicine power.

Historically, aboriginals recognized and depended on those people who could heal and guide their nation. Healers were revered because of the powers they commanded.

"When the world was new you could see it work, it was easy to believe in back then. Medicine power was so powerful because everyone depended on it," Blondin said.

"When a person gets medicine power, a policy is attached to it. You have to act a certain way, believe in certain laws. And the laws that come with medicine power are difficult ones. If you break the policy, it leaks away."

Blondin has written 600 pages of his new book, more than 100 of those dedicated just to talking about the thousands of forms medicine power takes.

He hopes to see it hit the shelves by next winter. Until then, the hunter and trapper, grandfather and great-grandfather, will continue to tell stories to Dene youth, and hopes story-tellers rise up to keep the traditions alive.

"It took only 10 years (of Western contact) until kids didn't know how to speak their own language. In 20 years, the entire nation forgot everything. Some of them don't even know medicine power existed," Blondin said.

"Medicine power came from the creator because he wanted people to be healthy. It's something that is the creation of the Creator, which is why I feel good about writing this book."