Hundreds of people from communities across Denendeh came together at the Wiiliideh site along the Yellowknife River over the weekend.
The event was organized as a revitalization of a fall gathering by the Yellowknives Dene First Nation.
Language expert and teacher Maro Sundberg-Drygeese said the gathering was intended to rekindle the spirit of a Yellowknives Dene tradition that lasted for generations.
As the cranberries come into season and the seasons changed, Yellowknives and guests gathered for three days of hand games, cultural events and to socialize with friends and family.
In the days leading up to the gathering, Shutaotine Elder and knowledge-carrier Paul Andrew said, “This weekend here in Yellowknife, there is going to be a hand games tournament. Fifty or 40 years ago, we had not heard of having a hand games tournament — along with that, a whole generation of thoughts and thinking, and ways of knowing were dying off. We’re going to bring that back. And now, playing hand games is probably one of the most amazing things you’ll ever see.”
