The Institute
The Yamozha K’ue Society is a non-profit society incorporated under the Territorial Societies Act. It has a charitable status and membership is open to all residents of the Northwest Territories who are beneficiaries of the Dene or Metis aboriginal rights claims and over the age of 18 years.
Both the Denendeh Elders Council and the Board of Directors have representaiton from the five regions within Denendeh. Their role is to ensure that the Institute meets its mandate of promoting and protecting all aspects of the Dene culture.
The Yamozha K’ue Society has been working to assist Dene to maintain and strengthen our distinct culture since 1987. It has concentrated on coordinating research and educational activities that protect and promote Dene culture, languages, spirituality, heritage, tradition and customs. It has also facilitated efforts by communities to preserve our culture.
The Institute’s work has followed the direction received at the Lutsel K’e Cultural Conference in 1986, where delegates from throughout Denendeh decided that a cultural organization was necessary for the Dene. People continue to believe that strengthening cultural identity is necessary for the young Dene to cope in the modern world and find their own path to meaningful, healthy lives.
We thank you for visiting our site and hope you will find it useful, helpful and meaningful. Please take the time to browse our pages to get a better overview of our goals, services and directions. To contact the Institute immediately, please call (867) 874-8480 or click here to e-mail us.
Mission Statement
The Institute will serve as a resource centre by collecting and preserving elements from the past and promote the practice of culture especially among the young to ensure that the culture thrives and serves future generations while protecting our heritage from harful influences from the modern society.
“Elders: as keepers of the Dene Knowledge, Wisdom and Experience, they are perhaps the greatest strength of the Dene Culture.”
