Dene

The Dene are Indigenous peoples of the interior of Alaska and northwestern Canada who speak Athabaskan languages. Historically, they lived in small, mobile bands led by skilled hunters, and their economy was based on the fur trade. The Dene are distinct from the Inuit, who are the Arctic peoples of Canada.12

The Dene are a significant part of the population in the Northwest Territories of Canada, particularly in the Mackenzie valley. While tribal organization was not strong, their social unit was the small band. The decline of the fur trade in the 20th century impacted their economy, leading to unemployment for many. Public funding now supports local programming aimed at revitalizing the Dene linguistic and cultural heritage.23