Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 18/05) - Dene from around North America will get together in Calgary later this month and discuss unity at the second International Dene Gathering July, 22-28.

Shirley Lamalice of K'atlodeeche First Nation bought an Apache quartz and glass necklace during October's historic Dene gathering in Calgary. - NNSL file photo

It will be the follow-up to an historic Dene gathering in Calgary last October that brought together about 225 Dene from First Nations in Yukon, NWT, British Columbia, Alberta and the southern United States, including Navaho and Apache.

Organizer Raymond Yakeleya, from Tulita but now living in Edmonton, says at least 1,000 people are expected to attend.

"People are showing a very strong interest," he said.

Yakeleya says all Dene share the same concerns about the erosion of language and culture.

Along with learning more about shared traditions, legends and language, Yakeleya says, "The other main goal is to unite the Dene politically."

Yakeleya says the political structure might be similar to the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, which represents people in different countries.

Yakeleya also notes there is talk of creating a Dene embassy in Europe and a Dene bank.

This year's gathering will also be more informal - out in the open in tents, he notes. "It's sleeping under the stars, in traditional Dene fashion. It would have been how native people would have done it since the beginning of time."

One of the largest delegations from the NWT at the October gathering was the 20 people from K'atlodeeche First Nation on the Hay River Reserve.

One of the delegates was Shirley Lamalice, the band's director of justice, culture and recreations.

She says there is interest in this month's gathering from many areas of the North, including the Sahtu, Fort Providence, Fort Resolution and elsewhere.

Lamalice is not sure how many will attend from the North, comparing the gathering to an annual religious pilgrimage to Alberta.

"It's the same thing as Lac Ste. Anne. People pack up and go."

However, she notes the timing of the gathering conflicts with the Lac Ste. Anne pilgrimage, so some people will have to decide between the two.