Phil Duffy
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Jun 22/01) - Members of a disbanded First Nation are working to reclaim their heritage.
Organizers believe there may be as many as 1,000 members of the disbanded Yellowknive's Tso' Tine Nation.
They trace their history back to July 25, 1900, when a treaty was signed on behalf of the Yellowknive's Tso' Tine, (Rocher River and area).
Since then the people of the area were gradually relocated, disbanded, or amalgamated into other First Nations.
They're now trying to locate people who can trace their roots back to the Tso' Tine First Nation.
"We have set up an interim board of directors until such time as an election can be held," said interim board member Noeline Villebrun.
"I was happy to pay for the incorporation of the society out of my own pocket," added the Fort Resolution resident.
"The money is inconsequential compared to the reward of regaining my own history and proudly passing it on to my children and grandchildren," added Villebrun.
The other interim board members are Doris McQueen, Lawrence Beaulieu, Frank Mckay, and Tony Buggins.
"It's hard to contact everyone and harder to get together because of the fact that we are all so scattered and have no funds to operate a widespread reunion campaign," said McQueen, a Yellowknife resident.
"There are members of the old Rocher River Band scattered across the NWT, and even in the western provinces," she added.
One of the priorities for these interim board members is to do a genealogical study of the people who fall under the original band and area.
"The government seems to have the attitude that we are trying to start a new band when what we really want is to re-establish what we once had. This is a big obstacle for us because they aren't helping or supporting us at this time," added McQueen.
