When Caribou Changes Its Clothes
Story told by Déline Elder, William Sewi
 Caribou migrates to the barrengrounds, even though it doesn’t
have navigating tools. It still travels straight. It migrates to change
its
clothing, just the way a man would change his clothing when
it wears out.
There is a kind of caribou known in the Déline dialect as
bele yah. It looks like a two year old caribou. And it is
said that it is the boss of all the caribou.
Bele yah scouts up ahead of the herd. When it finds a good
feeding ground, it goes back and rounds up the herd, and
leads them to the area. Yes, it is the boss of all the caribou.
It is amazing how straight
it travels. They say it is as intelligent as humans.
Along the migration route to the barrengrounds, there is
a hill called Radú Dahk'ale (white outcrop). It has been said
that this is where the caribou changes its footwear.
The same as we humans do when our moccasins wear out, so
it’s been said that the caribou changes its footwear on this hill.
It is said that the caribou sang a song on this hill. This
song was not passed on.
From that hill, the caribou continues along on the barrengrounds.
It goes a long way, all the way to its calving grounds.
It has been said that the caribou rears its young as people
do. When it licks its young one, it is actually changing
its diaper.
There is an inscription in the skull of the caribou. It is
written in a strange language. They say that one day in the
future, someone will be able to interpret the inscription.
Whenever it rains, the caribou feeds good, and that’s how it
gets fat. Like if we ate dry food, for example, we wouldn't like it!
But if
the food is boiled, it is very good for us.
Long ago when it rained, people used to exclaim, “Haaaay, it’s
raining! That ’s great, for the caribou is going to be fat!”
ELDER STORIES | YOUTH SPEAK | CARIBOU NUTRITION
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