by Janet Smellie
Northern News Services

NNSL (Oct 27/97) - The newest book by one of the North's most popular storytellers was officially launched last week at the legislature building.

Medicine Man, which includes stories about the powerful effects medicine power has had on Dene culture, was written by Sahtu elder George Blondin.

This is the third book for Blondin, who's now in his early 80s. His first book, When the World Was New, is a popular collection of stories that many children continue to enjoy today.

Published by the Dene Cultural Institute, Medicine Power follows the stories of medicine people including Yamoria, whom Blondin remembers as "possibly the greatest medicine power person when the world was new."

Blondin told the crowd that due to the many changes facing the Dene culture, he wanted to write about the medicine powers of the past before these stories are lost forever.

"I wanted to write this for students. I'm not a professor. I'm not educated. I just don't like to see the all the history of the Dene people completely forgotten."

"It's important that Dene students know that they came from these powerful people of long ago. The purpose of this book is to provide schools and students with knowledge about the past so that Dene students can learn this as part of their education," Blondin said.

Calling Blondin one of the North's "greatest resources" NWT Resources Minister Stephen Kakfwi said

Blondin's contribution has been "almost a science" and definitely a "gift that is so spellbinding," as he can keep everyone glued for hours and days listening to his entertaining tales.

"As an elder, he has offered an incredible amount of knowledge about the past. To share it so freely so openly to us is unique ... not all elders can do that," Kakfwi said.

Joanne Barnaby, executive director of the Dene Cultural Institute, said the territorial government is helping ensure these stories are translated into Dogrib and North Slavey.

"George has material like you wouldn't believe and we can't keep up to him. He's an inspiration to all of us. The older he gets the faster he gets."