Abstract

The North and Northernness have always been important elements of the Canadian identity. Even though there is some confusion in locating the North, most Canadians feel that some element of Northern culture or Northern environment is a contributing factor in Canada's identity. The truth, however, is that very few Canadians travel to the far North. How is it then, that so many Canadians can feel an attachment to a land which is so distant? This paper argues that the North has been mediated to a southern audience through second-hand accounts of southerners traveling and studying in the North. This ‘archive of knowledge’ is named the written North, both because it conflicts with the experienced North of Northerners, and because it has primarily been constructed by academics, explorers, and writers.

This paper will trace the history of the written North beginning with the British search for the Northwest Passage. By looking at the changing images of the North in mercantile journals, naval field journals, and early anthropology, I hope to trace the development of the written North. I will also examine contemporary work on the North, a project I call writing the North . Three diverse fields of knowledge will be examined: anthropology, fiction, and traditional environmental knowledge gathering. In conclusion, I will discuss ways in which to enhance the sensitivity of the written North by truly appreciating and incorporating traditional environmental knowledge. This will involve discussing Native Northern stories as metaphors for land and travel, including a discussion of place names and how they function as mnemonic pegs. In the end, the written North can only be of true value if, like traditional storytelling, it translates accurately onto the land.

Although this thesis discusses the North as a whole, its main concern is with Fort Good Hope, NWT (66°, 50' North latitude, 128°, 38' west longitude), a community composed primarily of Hareskin Indians, the smallest tribe in the Dene Nation. A great deal of the motivation, research, and passion for this paper comes from this small community on the shores of Deh Cho.