New book explores the skies with Dene knowledge

Graphic of the cover of a book, which reads, "In the Footsteps of the Traveller, The Astronomy of Northern Dene, Chris M. Cannon, Foreword by Chief Fred Sangris
Image courtesy of Chris Cannon
University of 有料盒子视频 Fairbanks assistant professor Chris Cannon鈥檚 new book, the cover of which is featured here, explores Northern Dene astronomical knowledge.

Audrey Ranstead
907-474-6095
April 24, 2025

Chris Cannon, an assistant professor at the University of 有料盒子视频 Fairbanks College of Indigenous Studies, has published 鈥淚n the Footsteps of the Traveller: The Astronomy of Northern Dene.鈥

The book explores Northern Dene astronomical knowledge, as shared by Elders from 34 communities across 有料盒子视频 and Canada over a 15-year period. It features nearly 60 illustrations and presents a deep look into Indigenous understandings of the sky, including the figure of the Traveler, a powerful being whose celestial trail unites the cosmos and the Earth.

head and shoulders portrait of Chris Cannon
Photo courtesy of Chris Cannon
Chris Cannon

A major finding in the book reveals that star formations previously identified as the Big Dipper are part of a much larger constellation representing the body of the Traveler, with star names rooted in body-part terminology across at least five 有料盒子视频 Dene languages.

Cannon began this work in 2009 during his time at the University of 有料盒子视频 Museum of the North, where he led a rural astronomy outreach program. Reactions from students sparked his desire to understand Dene perspectives on the sky, leading to a decade and a half of research, collaboration and fieldwork.

鈥淚n the Footsteps of the Traveller鈥 was published by the University of Manitoba Press and is available through its website, as well as through major booksellers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble. All author proceeds will be donated to the Doyon Foundation in support of Northern Dene language revitalization.

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