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DEH GAH GOT'IE/FORT PROVIDENCE - Paddling in and often winning the Mackenzie Days' canoe races has become a family affair for the Nadlis.

This year the sibling combo of Eric Nadli and Sylvia Nadli won the adult mixed canoe races.

Siblings Eric, left, and Sylvia Nadli flank Shelby Nadli, one of the next generation of paddlers in the Nadli family of Fort Providence. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Their brother George Nadli was a member of the fourth-place team.

The family also dominated the youth canoe races where Sylvia's son Roland Nadli and George's daughter Jodie took first place.

The family's involvement, however, didn't stop there.

Eric's daughters Shelby and Erin were part of the second and third place teams, respectively.

Sylvia credits the way the family was raised for their success in the canoe races. When she was growing up, the family did a lot of paddling.

"We were raised travelling here and there by paddling," she said.

Members of her generation of the family have tried to pass on the paddling tradition to their children, said Sylvia.

"It's like one big family paddling," she said.

A familiarity with the Mackenzie River and its currents also helps the Nadli family keep its winning streak. Sylvia has entered the Mackenzie Days canoe races almost every year.

When she started competing in the 1970s, the teams paddled rafts down the river instead of canoes.

"Knowing the currents going down is the best part," said Sylvia.

If you misjudge the currents and hit a patch of dead water you quickly fall behind, she said.

Eric is no slouch when it comes to winning the races, either.

In both 2006 and 2007 Eric and another family member, his brother Ernest, won the men's canoe race. Because the men's and women's divisions were combined this year to make a mixed division Eric and Sylvia decided to team up.

In an unusual move, Sylvia paddled in the stern of the canoe while Eric paddled in the bow.

In all the other teams the men paddled in the back of the canoe.

Using her years of experience being in the stern during the women's races Sylvia kept the canoe on course while Eric continually paddled.

"We thought it would give us more paddling strength," Sylvia said.

The tactic seemed to work. The Nadlis had a combined time of 59 minutes and 53 seconds for the two heats of paddling from near the Big River Service Station to the docks at Fort Providence.

The second place team of Edwin Sabourin and Diana Gargan finished in one hour, one minute and 26 seconds.

Third place went to Joe Mantla and Doreen Apple and fourth to George Nadli and Darlene McLeod.

After years of paddling, Sylvia said this was her last year in the competition and that she's ready to pass the torch to the next generation of Nadlis.

Eric, however, said he'll be ready when next year's Mackenzie Days roll around.