By Karli Zsch枚gner
Courtesy to Inuvik Drum
With a two-year hiatus from the pandemic, a group as young as 12 and as old as 80 years old left from Fort McPherson on a week skidoo trek across the border to Old Crow the annual Johnny D. Charlie Memorial Skidoo Trip. Twenty-Seven set off starting March 15 and arrived back a day earlier Wednesday evening coming together including three from Inuvik and from the Yukon.
SA国际影视传媒淚 wanted to not only pay respects to my ancestors who travelled these trails for generations but also for myself to see the land and be with our people and hunt along the way and just live the life that weSA国际影视传媒檝e always lived up here as GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n,SA国际影视传媒� said participant GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Tribal Council Grand Chief Ken Kyikavichik.
For Kyikavichik, the trip was 31 years in the making since he was in grade nine at Fort McPhersonSA国际影视传媒檚 Chief Julius School the first year in 1992 Johnny D. Charlie started passing on his fatherSA国际影视传媒檚 annual trek through the mountains by dog sled by skidoo to keep the memory of the traditional routes. After his death, it became a cross-community annual memorial trip in 1999.
With one day delay due to a Dempster Highway closure, skidooers included seven under Yukon University who joined the one-way to Old Crow. Meeting the next evening at Curtain Mountain camp, the full crew head to Old Crow late morning of March 17, with arrivals beginning at 10 and 11pm.
For the three days upon arrival organizers in Old Crow served three meals a day from their community centre and events including a ball hockey tournament to bring the community and guests together.
The remaining group along with Old CrowSA国际影视传媒檚 Robert Kyikavichik and youth Dean Njootli set back down the Porcupine River to camp back at Curtain Mountain. Staying for the last night, Fort McPherson elder and guide Keith Colin and youth Lucas Francis successfully caught three more caribou.
SA国际影视传媒淓xcited, happy, thankful,SA国际影视传媒� said Francis describing what it means to hunt and harvest caribou. He said he doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 care to count, but within since turning 14, heSA国际影视传媒檚 caught around 20 to help feed his family and friends.
ItSA国际影视传媒檚 his first time on the trip and route across the land he said with some of his favourite memories were setting up and sleeping in the heated canvas tents.
For 19-year-old Malaenah Alexis, it was also her first on-the-land trek to Old Crow through the memorial trip. Helping harvest one of the caribou, she said her favourite memories include the mountainous landscape, but if it wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 for this trip, she would not have met family members she didnSA国际影视传媒檛 know she had in Old Crow.
SA国际影视传媒淪hocking how much people knew my dad, my grandmother, it was kind of overwhelming,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
Volunteering at their Curtain Mountain camp stays to show the youngest travellers on setting rabbit snares, she said she thinks itSA国际影视传媒檚 important more youth across the region come on these trips for the opportunity for developing meaningful connections but also learn survival skills.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 important for this younger generationSA国际影视传媒o be learning, to be coming up here because I see that there wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 as much youth to come as the recent years, and like, nobodySA国际影视传媒檚 going to know these trails anymore, because elders are going.SA国际影视传媒�
Fort McPherson organizer Phyllis Andre said originally there were plans for over 50 skidoos with partnership with Beaufort Delta Education Council to bring youth from Aklavik and Fort McPherson but cancelled.
Funders included TeetlSA国际影视传媒檌t Zheh JordanSA国际影视传媒檚 Principal and Band Council, Inuvik Justice Committee, and Vuntut GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Government.
