79 
Polygamy was accepted by the Satudene but probably the proportion 
of cases was small, on account of the difficulties involved in the support 
and protection from attack of more than one woman. The custom is 
mentioned by almost all the early writers; and even within the memory 
of some of the oldest Indian informants today a few of the best hunters 
had several wives. 
Polyandry is reported of the Beaver (Slave) by Wentzel (1890, page 
86), who mentions one case by two or three brothers. Keith (1890, II, 
page 69) also mentions a case of the Slave, This was denied by Satudene 
informants but the information being over a hundred years later than 
Keith's observations, it becomes very difficult to discover how much change 
has been brought about by European contact, and especially that of the 
missionaries. 
Wife-lending was never practised by the Satudene according to 
informants, who also proclaim that they never heard any old men mention 
such a custom. 
The degree of affinity that the Satudene permitted in marriage in 
former times is questionable, but incest was not uncommon and was not 
regarded as criminal or indeed with any great disfavour. 
Death. The greatest proportion of deaths within the last one hundred 
and fifty years has probably been due to disease, and in the past few years 
the death rate has been exceptionally high due to epidemics that come in 
during the summer. Tuberculosis seems to have taken considerable hold 
of the people and causes the most deaths. 
Starvation no doubt caused many deaths in the past, but cases are 
comparatively rare now. The imputation that the Satudene abandoned 
their aged and infirm is only to be judged upon realization of conditions 
that make such procedure necessary for the continued life of the group. 
It appears not to have been the ordinary occurrence but one brought 
about in circumstances approaching those that induced cannibalism, and 
it was more often by their own request that the aged were left to die. 
Numerous cases of care and consideration have been, and might be, cited to 
show tenderness for the infirm, and such treatment invariably means 
sacrifice among a primitive, nomadic people. 
Suicide is not common at the present day, yet Franklin says (1828, 
page 301) that he discovered it to be not so rare as he imagined and was 
informed of two cases that occurred in the year 1826, around Great Bear 
lake. 
The Indians apparently are very much afraid of death when they are 
enjoying good health, but when they are about to die, or feel certain that 
death is near, they are singularly fearless, often joking at the prospect. 
One old man, when he was dying, showed his jesting ways and happy 
spirit. As he was breathing his last, he said, “I guess it is a long trail to 
God. You had better put in a tea pail and a little tea so that I can make 
fire on the way." The expression “to make fire” is synonymous with 
stopping and eating. 
Several types of treatment of the dead are recorded for the Satudene 
and neighbouring tribes. Hearne said (1795, page 323) of his Chipewyan 
companions that they left the body to be devoured supposedly by beasts 
