The 1962 Dogrib Tea Dane

Helm eyıts'ǫ Lurıe edlatlǫ xo ts'ǫ̀ Bechekǫ̀ eyıts'ǫ Whahtı̀ (Tsǫ̀ǫ̀tı̀ wııyeh ı̨̀le) ełexè eghàlagı̨̀nda ı̨̀lè. Sǫmba naàzhe ekı̀yeh, Helm nı̨htł'èchı̀ yıı̀hchı ı̨̀le, eyıxè Lurıe t'a gıyatı ı̀ı̀hchı̀ ı̨̀lè. 1999 k'eh June Helm dıı shı̨ yıı̀hchı sıı eyıts'ǫ nı̨htł'èchı̀ yıı̀chı sıı azhǫ Edzaneek'e whaedǫ goht'ǫ whela kǫ̀ ghayı̨̀wa. John B. Zoe Dogrib Treaty 11 Council ts'ǫh eyıts'ǫ NWT Archives ełexè dıı whaedǫ shı̨ CD k'e agı̨̀lah. Eyı CD Dogrib Treaty 11 Council eytıs'ǫ Nıshı-Khon/SNC Lavalin Ltd. Ełexè segı̨̀lah.

Akwełǫ̀ dıı shı̨ ı̀ı̀chı̀ hò, Butoba MT5 k'e tł'ı̀ necha nàke ets'ààtł'ò k'e, dıı haanı̀ shı̨ ı̀ı̀chı̀ ı̨̀lè, eyıtł'ahǫ 1999 Edzaneek'e Digidesign Protools k'e ı̀ı̀chı̀. Helm wenı̨htł'è yı̀ı̀, dıı haàdı yı̨̀ı̨̀tł'è, dǫne geèjı̨ nındè, yatı t'à geèjı̨-le, dǫne shı̨ ładı̨ ayeèɂı̨ nındè zǫ shı̨ ładı̨ agehɂı̨̀. Dıı shı̨ wha gots'ǫ̀ dǫne geèjı̨ gha nı̨ı̨dè agı̨̀lah, dıı shı̨ ı̀ı̀chı̀ sıı, eyı zǫ laanı̀ gohłı̨ neet'à, wesı̀ı̀dı t'à wek'è eghàlagı̨̀da. Dıı shı̨ sǫłı̨ ładı̨ adlà-le gohłı̨ neehò, eyı shı̨tł'ı̀ whaedǫ goht'ǫ whelakǫ̀ whela, eyı weghàda ha dahwhǫ nındè, akǫ weghàda gha dı̀le. Dıı gondı ı̀ı̀chı̀ kǫ̀ Treaty 11 goxè gehtsı̨ hǫt'e.

Helm and Lurie worked together for several years in the Dogrib communities of Rae and Whatı̀ (formerly Lac La Martre). During public sessions such as Treaty time celebrations, Helm took photographs, while Lurie recorded the event on audio tape. In 1999 June Helm donated the audio tapes and photographs to the NWT Archives. Working with the original recordings, John B. Zoe of the then Dogrib Treaty 11 Council, and the NWT Archives re-recorded the songs in CD format. The CD was produced by the Dogrib Treaty 11 Council and sponsored by Nishi-Khon/SNC Lavalin Ltd.

The original recordings were made on a Butoba MT5 reel to reel recorder, and the analog master tapes were transferred to a ‘Digidesign Protools’ digital audio workstation at the Northwest Territories Archives in 1999. As Helm indicates in her note, often singers would only sing a chant once before another was begun. In order to preserve these single chants, loops were made to extend their length. As these are the only known recordings of many of these chants, it was important to loop and extend them so that they may be included in the final package. The original versions have been preserved in an unedited format, and can be reviewed at the Northwest Territories Archives. The original Sound Room was developed in cooperation with the Treaty 11 Council and was revamped in 2013.

Reference: The 1962 Dogrib Tea Dance PWNHC exhibit

NWT ARCHIVES/JUNE HELM FONDS/N-2004-020-0339
 

 

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