Lisa Scott
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 26/04) - If anyone could wrap up centuries of Northern culture in a way that would make a group of visiting Montreal students pay attention, Jamie Bastedo could.

Jamie Bastedo gives a very believable performance as 19th century fur trader Jean Steinbruck for exchange students from Montreal and their hosts from William McDonald school. - Lisa Scott/NNSL photo

Thirty Grade 7 and 8 easterners joined a pack of William McDonald French immersion students for a fur trading workshop put on by Bastedo at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre on Tuesday.

The workshop is just one of a number of cultural and linguistic activities that the students will experience during their week-long visit to Yellowknife.

They were chosen to travel on the exchange by the Society for Educational Visits and Exchanges in Canada (SEVEC) after William McDonald teacher Yolande Allain applied for the program in the fall.

Allain was granted the 25 students a year quota the NWT is allowed and paired up with Greenfield Park school in Montreal.

"We're hoping to enrich their cultural background," Allain said.

She hopes the students get an understanding of the history of their country and learn "to appreciate what Canada has to offer," she said. That's why the Montrealers will get a tour of Yellowknife, try out dog sledding, learn from Bastedo and, fingers crossed, hopefully see some northern lights.

Sevec is funding travel expenses for the William McDonald students to experience Montreal culture for their week, April 12-19.

"We're hoping to have the kids connect with the other kids as well and to keep some kind of correspondence going," Allain said.

Two days into the exchange, the students found themselves giggling and squirming as Bastedo comically reenacted the life of fur trader Jean Steinbruck, who was stationed in Fort Yellowknife in 1802. Bastedo blended a lot of comedy in with the history lesson, even amazing the teacher with how well the kids paid attention throughout the workshop.

Yellowknife student Katie Maksymowich and Montreal student Jessica Buxar said they were just in stitches over Bastedo's performance.

As for her wish list of quintessential Quebec experiences, Maksymowich said she desires a visit to a "cabane a sucre" or sugar shack.

"I want to taste their maple syrup," she said.