Chapters are transcripts of oral histories from the early twentieth century, by ten elders of the Dene people, about the early days of fur trading, guns, and missionaries; their dismay about the way oil and uranium discoveries and pipelines were handled on their land; and the emotional fallout of the signing of Treaty 11.

Companion DVD includes "We remember the coming of the white man" directed by Raymond Yakeleya, 1978, 55 min. Remastered and produced in 2020. Includes director's commentary.

Preface /Raymond Yakeleya -- Part I, Reflections. Foreward, Walter Blondin -- Treaty 11, Sarah Stewart -- We remember, Raymond Yakeleya -- The Dene nation / Sarah Stewart -- The Métis experience / Colette Poitras -- Part II, The elders remember. The elders / Elizabeth Yakeleya, Sarah Simon, Mary Wilson, Joe Blondin, John Blondin, Isadore Yukon, Johnny Kaye, Jim Edwards Sittichinli, Peter Thompson, Andrew Kunnizzi -- Early days -- Fur, guns, contact -- Family life -- Boat time -- Missionaries -- Oil discovery -- Treaty 11 -- The sickness -- Uranium -- First machines -- The mad trapper -- Canol road -- Mackenzie Valley pipeline -- Time of change -- Part III Stories from the people. Tutichak, Leanne Goose -- How the muskrat created the world / Antoine Mountain, Maurice Mendo -- The slingshot and the songbird / Raymond Yakeleya -- In the land of the Na?àcho / George Blondin -- The drums / George Blondin -- When the white people came / George Blondin -- Acknowledgments -- Authors -- The spirit of nature series.