Shahnuuti’ (Shahnyatti, Sahnyatti, and Sahneuti)
Shahnyatti was the son of Dahjalti, an important chief among the Gwich’in. Dahjalti had five wives and adopted many children.1) Ch’eeghwalti’, Shahnuuti’, and Shahvyah were three brothers from Fort Yukon who were important Gwich’in leaders with shamanistic skills in the early to mid-1800s. Ch’eeghwalti’ lived in the Vuntut Gwich’in territory, Shahnuuti’ lived in the Fort Yukon area, and Shahvyah lived in the Circle City area.2)
In February 1864, the Anglican missionary Robert McDonald went with the Hudson’s Bay Company men from Fort Yukon who dispersed to First Nation camps in the area because of lack of meat at the fort. McDonald heard of the death of one his First Nation Christian leaders, Kwiyati/Keitati, who was Sahnyatti’s cousin. In March, Sahnyatti invited McDonald to a dance [potlatch] at Fort Yukon to honour Keitati.3)
When catechist William Loola and Natthui paddled Archdeacon Robert McDonald to a gathering at the mouth of the Tanana River, Shahnyatti, asked some to stay at the gathering and listen to McDonald. All the chiefs rose to volunteer: Kwiyate of the Tunun Kutchin, Bikkienchatti of the Tranjik Kutchin, Tevisinti of the Netsi-Kutchin, and Nootlete of the Hun-Kutchin.4) In April 1875, McDonald received an invitation from John Sahnyati to visit his camp, 30 to 40 miles from Fort Yukon.5) Still, Shahnyatti refused baptism, marriage, and Christian law and was known for having numerous wives.6)
The Earl of Lonsdale met an aged Shahnyatti in 1889 at Old Rampart House, Alaska. He led a people who were shrewd and assertive traders and who also resisted the missionaries’ attempts to ban polygamy and substitute Anglican eschatology for shamanistic beliefs. He was one of the last great nineteenth century chiefs who fur trader Francois Mercier considered a man of extraordinary stature, strength, and bravery. However, the devastating effect of diseases on the Gwich’in encouraged the people to add Christianity to their traditional beliefs and rituals.7)