Hare

The Block

This elegant rendering of an Arctic Rose was beaded by Dora McNeely onto moose hide, using pink and burgundy beads with a translucent outer coating. On either side with two delicate buds lie ready to burst open. This flower is a common theme among northern people, as it is one of the few flowering plants to survive the extreme cold of the Northwest Territories. Women of the Sahtu Dene use it to decorate many items, such as their slippers, jackets, vests and gloves. The blockmaker transferred a design made by her deceased mother, and created the block in her memory.

Cultural Profile

The Hare are one of four regional bands (along with Mountain Dene, Slavey and Sahtu Dene) who are recognized by anthropologists as being Sahtu Dene. Each band is associated with a distinct dialect of “the Slavey-Hare” language, one of 24 Northern Athapaskan languages. The history of the Sahtu Dene is “written on the land” and they maintain an important relationship between their culture and the landscape. The Hare have lived for centuries in the forested areas that border the lower Mackenzie River valley.

They led a nomadic life of hunting, fishing and trapping. Their traditional territory stretched as far as the lands to the west and northwest of Great Bear Lake. In these regions they shared with other Dene nations. In 1789, Alexander Mackenzie, travelling with native guides, identified the Hare as being distinct, noting their heavy reliance on hare skins for their clothing. Indeed, their name, Hare, is believed to be an English translation of the tribal name Kawchottine, which refers to their reliance on the Snowshoe Hare for survival. The Hare population was relatively small at the time of contact (700-800 people).

The varied terrain of Hare territory provided large game (such as moose or caribou, depending on the region); while freshwater lakes were well stocked with trout, whitefish and other species. Hunting methods included use of bows, arrows, spears, snares, pounds and deadfalls. Small game fell to snares, hooks, willow-bark nets, or were caught in dams built across narrow streams. Plant-life was of minor significance to the diet. However, spruce sap was chewed as a gum and was used as a poultice for wounds, and certain lichens and mosses were boiled to make beverages and medicines. Favourite delicacies included caribou tongue, muskrat and beaver tails. Food was preserved by freezing in winter caches or by smoking it. Pemmican was made by pounding together meat or fish with berries and grease.

The establishment of trading posts, which soon grew into towns, encouraged regional concentrations of native populations throughout the north. Today, the two main Hare communities having the greatest concentrations within their traditional territory are Fort Good Hope and Colville Lake, NWT.

Sponsor: Marilyn and George Vance, in memoriam Grenetta Jackson