Curt,
This is an e-mail I received from a Mountain Dene' Elder. I was told this story around a campfire by this respected elder and I wanted to share the knife legend with you and all the readers of this tread.
The Mountain Dene' people live near Tulita, in the Sahtu, Northwest Territories, Canada.
The Shetagotine’ Knife Legend,
The Shetagotine’ known as the Mountain Dene’ were famous for their hunting knives. Dene’ had to travel great distances to acquire flint. A traditional mountain across from Tulita is known only to the Mountain Dene’ where this flint was can be found. When the mountain Dene’ arrived at this mountain they camped and prepared them selves for a vision. The vision came only to a very select few that the creator chose. Following the vision the person with the vision knew exactly what rock to find the flint under. The Shetagotine’ was constructed from this flint and moose horn. The Mountain Dene’ traditionally had two types of knives. The right handed skinning knife was long bladed with only one side sharpened and the inner blade rounded to break bones without damaging the blade. With the knife held in the right hand, the blade is sharpened only on the side facing the body. This knife is well known for skinning, meat cutting and hand combat. The right handed hide knife was long bladed with only one side sharpened. With the knife held in the right hand, the entire length of the blade is sharpened only on the side facing away from the body. Shetagotine’ knives were sacred to the Mountain Dene’ Warriors as they were the essence of their very survival. Mountain Dene’ who acquired their knives through vision were revered.
Spirit Edge Knives has honored the Mountain Dene’ and their legend with the modern recreation of these beautiful traditional Shetagotine’ knives. Thank you Daniel and Sylvie.
Walter Blondin
Elder
Shetagotine’
Thank you for the opportunity to share it with you.
Daniel
Topic: A couple more snakey arrows (Read 15175 times)
