Jasmine Budak
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 01/02) - Storytellers gathered in Somba K'e Park recently to share memories from the long ago Berger Inquiry and to stir a few laughs.

As part of the week long symposium The True North, Strong and Free, sponsored by The Living History Society, storytellers like Chief Francois Paulette and Fibbi Tatti amused and informed a crowd of picnickers. It was an afternoon of personal memories and of polemical predictions.

Smith Landing Chief Francois Paulette shared his experience of being elected at only 21 years old.

"I was only 21, I had a drinking problem and I didn't know anything about leadership," said Paulette. "But it was in my blood to lead."

Paulette recalled being dismissed at meetings as a young radical kid. He said he's come a long way since then, but the Dene nation still has a long way to go.

"The once-powerful Dene nation is no longer there," he said.

Paulette scoffed at official governments, saying "if you react to government, you'll be called a terrorist." He further remarked that "the evil one will use world leaders to do his dirty work."

Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development regional director general Bob Overvold spoke of his "awakening" to not only himself, but to his aboriginal ancestry. He recalled back in 1968 when a young Pierre Trudeau visited Yellowknife after just winning the Liberal leadership race. He spoke to Overvold's school about the history of the Akaitcho.

"That moment remained with me for a long time and was the beginning of the awakening of myself," said Overvold.

Along with aboriginal chiefs and speakers, those directly involved in the Berger Inquiry shared their memories as well.

Wilf Bean, former advisor during the inquiry, said the experience taught him that "there is another way to live and be in the North."

Bean helped organize local community councils to vocalize new ideas about how the North should develop.

Bean said "it was a time of struggle," and he recalls getting late night phone calls warning him and the councils to "back off" and "get out of the country."

Like young Paulette, Bean said he and his councils were called radicals.

Bean said the community councils were important to the inquiry and strengthened their voice.

"It moved from an individual voice and became a voice of a people, a voice of a time."