46 
Personal Appearance. The personal appearance of the Satudene, 
early writers say, was never attractive except for a few days after a new 
dress was put on. The clothing soon became dirty and ragged, no doubt 
being hurried by the application of grease. The expression be-ke-kle 
(grease on him) is still used to mean “he is well dressed,” and the opposite 
connotation is given to be-ke-tu (water on him). Simpson (1843, page 243) 
wrote, in the eighteen- thirties, of Indians at Fort Confidence (east end of 
Great Bear lake) that “some of them even learned to take off their caps 
in the house, and to wash instead of greasing their faces.” Thus we are 
able to date the beginning of this civilized custom, which has unfortunately 
degenerated in certain cases to passing around a shallow food plate con- 
taining water in which each and every member of the party performs 
his ablutions, one after the other. 
The ornamentation of the dress was meagre as compared with that 
of other Athapaskan tribes, and few articles of pure adornment were seen 
or can now be remembered. Petitot (1876, page 62), however, reports 
the use of nose ornaments. 
The hair generally received no special attention. By both sexes it 
was allowed to grow long and was dressed by running greasy hands through 
it. At times coloured feathers were added. A few of the oldest men still 
wear their hair cut just above shoulder length. Hair plucking is unknown 
and the Indians seem proud of a little beard. Wentzel (1890, I, page 88) 
says of the Beaver (Slave) men that before a dance they loosened their 
hair, greased it, and strewed swansdown on their heads. He also says 
that they rubbed a little vermilion on their heads and faces. The custom 
of painting the face red before dancing was also mentioned by informants 
at Good Hope. Richardson (1852, page 248) reports that the Hare men 
painted their faces and wore ornaments on festive occasions, whereas 
the women seldom took so much trouble, but were generally tattooed 
on the chin or at the angles of the mouth. 
Previous to the last thirty years, tattooing was common among the 
Satudene, chiefly among the women as a mode of beautifying themselves. 
Generally three lateral lines were used across the nose and the cheeks. 
Vertical lines were made on the forehead above the nose, and in many 
cases four or five on the chin. The method was that of puncture by a 
bone needle. A blue colour made from berries was the most popular, 
but charcoal was also used. Cases are known in which gunpowder was 
substituted. Children were not tattooed. 
SHELTER 
Open Camps and Brush Lodges. When travelling in extremely cold 
weather, a lodge would probably be erected hastily for a temporary shelter, 
but usually an open camp is made. This is formed by clearing out the 
snow to the ground. Spruce brush is laid on the clearing and small trees 
and boughs are piled up on three sides, facing the fire. The fire is built 
on top of the snow to leeward, but soon melts to the ground, making a warm 
pocket of the camp. If the snow were not cleaned out before the brush 
was laid, the fire would soon melt its way almost out of sight, and give 
insufficient heat. The small trees and brush on the three exposed sides of 
the camp keep the snow from falling in or from thawing and they act as 
