Culture

The Shúhtaot'ine (Mountain Dene) are one of the peoples that are part of the Sahtu Dene and Métis. The Shúhtaot'ine are the traditional users and travelers of Shúhta, the Central Mackenzie Mountains, including the lands now in Nááts'įhch'oh National Park Reserve.

The Sahtu Dene and Métis continue to use this land to hunt moose and caribou, catch fish, and gather berries and medicines. Long before paddlers and outdoor adventurers began coming to these lands, the Shúhtaot'ine travelled annual circuits over high alpine passes, down twisting river valleys, and out into the forests and lowlands. The ingenious mooseskin boat, a vessel made of spruce and raw moose hides, was used to travel down several of the region’s rivers.

Today, many of the Shúhtaot'ine reside in the Sahtu communities of Tulita and Norman Wells, on the banks of the Deho, the Mackenzie River. The Shúhtaot'ine dialect is used by Parks Canada for Nááts’įhch’oh National Park Reserve place names.