On the Trails of Our Ancestors

Wha Dǫ̀ Ehtǫ̀ K’è (Trails of Our Ancestors) is a journey rooted in Tłı̨chǫ law, memory, and responsibility to the land.

In July 1995, five 22-foot canoes departed Behchokǫ̀ to retrace the water routes travelled by our ancestors for generations. Elders, youth, students, and teachers travelled together. Elders carried stories, place names, and teachings. Young people listened, learned, and took responsibility for carrying that knowledge forward.

This was not a symbolic trip. It was land-based governance in action. The group followed traditional river routes, visited old camps and villages, and stopped at gravesites to clean, pray, and acknowledge those who came before. Every portage, every campsite, and every decision along the way reinforced that Tłı̨chǫ knowledge lives on the land and is learned through practice.

The journey was demanding. Low water levels required extensive portaging and careful navigation. Still, the group moved with purpose. They were welcomed by communities along the route, including Rae Lakes, where people gathered to honour the travellers and the work they carried.

On the Trails of Our Ancestors affirms that Tłı̨chǫ history is not something you read about. You walk it. You paddle it. You learn it by being on the land together. This journey strengthened intergenerational ties and reminded all involved that the land continues to teach when you take the time to listen.

This page shares that story so you can understand how land, language, and community remain central to Tłı̨chǫ identity and decision-making today.

• Read more on the Trails Of Our Ancestors here (PDF).