An Ancient Story

An Interview with Emma Kay

Q. Who told you the story about Shìłdii?

My first time was from my grandmother, Lucy Rat. Then Annie Robert and Alfred Charlie. In those days those Elders had strong medicine and whatever they tell you, you have to listen.

In the story, that young girl was separated from the camp during that time. When it was that time of the month, you have to keep looking at the ground, you can’t look around. They make a hat for them so they can’t look around.

Photo: Arylyn Charlie

The Elders from way back, they said that these two boys went hunting with a dog pack. The road goes straight up at Shìłdii, back along that creek, and it comes out close to the mountain. That's where the trail used to be. They went hunting, they came back.

That girl looked up. I guess she got so excited. There are people who say girls have to look to the ground, they can't look around. But her brothers were coming on top of the hill. And just when they got there they turned into stone. That's how powerful their medicine used to be.

Photo: Markus Radtke

Q. What can we learn from the story?

We have to have respect for that place. I know one time they held the Midway Lake festival there. Right away, one of the Elders, Mrs. Annie Robert, said: “I don’t want nobody to go there. It’s supposed to be a peaceful place, not to make noise.”

It’s just like two graves right there on the hill. She said she don’t want them to put up something like a festival there again. So they moved it to Midway, which is good.

Photo: NWT Archives

Q. Have you visited Shìłdii Rock often?

When I stayed up here with my mother, sometimes we were alone, me and her. I looked after the nets for her.

There was a speed boat passing with two boys in it. Next, I heard something. I looked up and they were around that stone. They were building the figure of a man out of rocks.. They laughed. I told my mother what was going on. “Tell them to get away from that place,” she said. “It’s not good.”

Photo: Gwich’in Land Use Planning Board

Q. What happened then?

After they built that man, they went to store. A few minutes after that, we hear thunder. It was chilly, it rained on us. My mother said it was caused by those boys doing that. They never had respect for that place. They made fools of themselves.

I had to start my boat and go to next camp and tell those Elders what happened. And they said, “Soon as that young man comes up, we’re going to tell him to take that stone down.” After that, they never saw rain or thunder.

Photo: Arlyn Charlie

Q. What lessons should we learn from that story?

You should learn to have respect and listen to how the Elders talk about that place. Never make a noise when you go there. It is a secret place.

My mother told us: “When you take kids up there, tell them not to make a noise. Because two boys turn to stone up there.” \They learn not to make a noise.

Photo: NWT Archives