Shutaotine Dene Laws
These laws express our spiritual, cultural, and governance foundations.
Our relationship to the land, water, and air is governed by Shutaotine Dene Laws and the lived responsibilities passed down through generations. These laws guide how we protect our language, honor our spiritual obligations, and care for our homelands. Any future for the Sahtu must respect these principles and the authority they carry.
Principles
- Respect for all life.
- No authority can compromise Mountain Dene spirituality.
- Collective decision-making for the greater good.
- Oversight by leadership committee.
- Preserve language, history, folklore, and medicines.
- Integrity: No self-benefit without approvals.
- No blood quantum requirement.
Values
- Respect
- Collective work
- Assistance & kindness
- Doing what is right
- Body & soul well-being
- Give for greater good
- Take only what you need
- Truth & honesty
- Responsibility