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Goliah Makletzoff-Cazon remembers her first trip on the Kearl River vividly.

"It was so challenging when I was in it," she said. "I remember my first trip. We were in wildfire season. We were in lightning position and there was a huge storm around us. I was like, crying, saying, 'I don't want to be here anymore!' SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½” and then coming out the other side of that. The program director came up to me and asked me if I wanted to come back and do some training to be a leader and I was like, 'Heck yeah!'

"It was very self-fulfilling and I felt very accomplished."

That was 10 years ago. Since then, Makletzoff-Cazon, who hails from Liidlii Kue First Nation in Fort Simpson, has spent her summers bringing that experience to as many Northern youth as she can.

Enter Northern Youth Leadership (NYL) SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½” a nonprofit initiative of the MakeWay Charitable Society, for which Makletzoff-Cazon serves as program coordinator. The organization is partnering with Black Feather wilderness adventure company to lead a two-week canoe expedition for youth, running from July 18 to Aug. 1.

Free to attend, the excursion is a two-week course on canoeing rapids. Also supporting the project is the Northwest Territories Recreation and Parks Association, Ecology North and Tulita Dene First Nation.

"We run land-based education programs to empower youth to be leaders in their communities," said program director Dr. Steph Woodworth. "Our younger youth camps focus on engagement and education, getting them introduced to different land based skills. Making sure they feel safe on the land, have fun and cultivate a relationship between themselves and the land.

"In the older age-based approach, we try to do more employment and empowerment, helping them hone in on their skills as land stewards, offering certifications that can help with future employment and cultivate their leadership qualities through that more in-depth type of programming."

They explained that the Leadership Development Program, as the expedition has been dubbed, was built out of a previous program that made use of the Kearl River. It is open to youth age 17 to 30.

Youth will be paired with mentors, added Woodworth. In total, nine youth, nine mentors and nine canoes will make the trip. They noted participants would learn important safety tips surrounding canoeing fast waters.

"Reading the river is a big part of the safety and skills required to navigate white water," said Woodworth. "You really need to know what the river is saying to you. What are your markers and obstacles you need to consider, what is the route you're going to take to in order to get through the rapid?

"You might have a gameplan going into the rapid and it doesn't end up the way you think. Being ready in case someone capsizes or the route doesn't go the way anticipated. Part of that is scouting, getting out of your canoes and looking at the river, making sure everyone does it safely."

Woodworth added that the aim was to get a mix of experience among participants so both eager paddlers and those unable to access the activity normally can both learn and grow.

Through the course, paddlers will receive certification in Introduction to Moving Water, Canoe Tripping/Camping and Canoe Rescue.

"With the Kearl River, during moving water you can gain more distance," said Makletzoff-Cazon."It's an easier river to introduce any level of paddler to. You can take more challenging routes to practice movements and manoeuvres as well.

"You're learning as you go on the river, so being aware of what's going on down river. It's so easy to build paddling skills along this route."

The deadline to apply is June 6. Visit to submit an application.