What my grandfather taught me
Deline resident Walter Bezha talks Dene tradition and wildlife management
Miranda Scotland
Northern News Services
Published Monday, January 19, 2015
DELINE/FORT FRANKLIN
Walter Bezha has spent the past 40 years trying to understand the teachings of his grandfather.
At 61 years old, Bezha - who has previously spelled his last name as Bayha - says he's beginning to make progress.
"One of the things the elders tell me, and my grandfather as well, is it's very disrespectful to talk about the animal too much. Today I understand what they're talking about."
Bezha will be among hunters and residents attending the Sahtu caribou and harvesting workshop in Deline Jan. 27 to 29.
And although caribou population declines are bound to be a hot topic, it isn't the animals themselves that need to be discussed, according to Bezha.
"It has nothing to do with the caribou. They take care of themselves. It's us as people that we need to talk about."
Traditionally, Dene leaders provided direction on what, where and how to hunt, said Bezha. Today, chiefs are focused on other responsibilities, which has left a major gap in leadership out on the land, he said.
"There are so many hunters today and you need somebody out there saying, 'This is the way we're going to hunt,'" he said, adding people need to be encouraged to follow the hunting cycle and not just eat certain animals, such as caribou.
"If leadership in April said, 'We're going to be getting into spring hunts for beaver, muskrats and getting ready for the migratory birds and that's what we're going to support in terms of harvesting and that's what we're going to be eating,' then I think it would happen."
There are plenty of wolves stalking caribou in the area that could be harvested, said Bezha. Also, despite an abundance of muskox in the Sahtu, there are always tags leftover at the end of the year.
However, it will take more than encouraging hunters to go for those animals to turn things around.
"We have to re-teach our young people. We even have to re-teach them how to cook (animals), what parts to take. All of that knowledge has to go back."
Although Bezha has formal education in forestry and wildlife management, along with decades of experience in the renewable resource sector, he doesn't let that knowledge overshadow the lessons from his grandfather.
Dene tradition has to be stressed, he said.
"I spent a lot of time trying to understand what being Dene is all about and a big part is spirituality.
"I used to think I could separate that from my daily life or from the meetings that we have.
"Well, 20, 30 years later I'm sitting here and I say no, you can't separate that. That has to be part of your meetings as well - thanking the creator, giving an (oath) at the beginning of the meeting to be truthful and to be honest and to be straightforward.
"It's very important if you're going to make good decisions and honest decisions."
In hunting, there must be respect for the animal, said Bezha. Caribou parts shouldn't be sitting in the dump. Save the bones and pieces that weren't eaten and "return it to the land" or give it to the dog, he said.
Bezha said he hopes the upcoming workshop will act as a forum for hunters to share stories and best practices like their ancestors once did.
"I want people to listen and if they don't agree with something tell me, tell us so we can change and make it better. Not say, 'No, I don't believe in that' and leave it at that.
"It's very important for people to say, 'This is the way we do it. This is the way my grandfather taught me.' Tell us, share!"
