PETITOT RIVER,B.C. - At least 420 people gathered over the weekend at the Petitot River to participate in an annual summer gathering.

The Petitot Gathering was held from Aug. 5-9 at a site on the river approximately half an hour south of Fort Liard, just across the B.C. border.

Jerry Antoine of Fort Simpson displays the garnished dish that won him first place in the Iron Chef competition. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

"It's been really great," said Annette Gairdner-Loe, the chair of the steering committee for the gathering, on Aug. 7.

This year's gathering started by exceeding attendance expectations. A drum dance on Wednesday evening, a travel day for the gathering, drew in 150 people, three times more than the 50 that were expected, Gairdner-Loe said.

By Thursday evening 420 people were at the river to join the line for supper. The attendance is one of the highest yet for the gathering, she said. Numbers were expected to peak on Saturday but a continuous rain shower thinned the crowd.

Those who did attend over the weekend were drawn in from across the NWT, B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The Acho Dene Koe First Nation from Fort Liard and the Fort Nelson First Nation co-host the event, which is organized by a steering committee. The committee is composed of 15 members from first nations, government and industry, said Gairdner-Loe, who's from Fort Nelson.

"It's very successful. It's really great to see everyone pulling together and doing a little bit to make it a better gathering than ever," she said.

The Petitot Gathering has a long history.

After starting in 1996 the gathering was held for 10 consecutive years at three different locations before stopping for two years. The gathering was revived last year and this is the second time it's been held at this site, she said.

This year's gathering incorporated a variety of traditional and modern activities. More traditionally-minded events included moosehide preparation, a birchbark basket workshop, drum dances and dry meat and fish preparation. Newer events included karaoke, language bingo, a watermelon carving competition and a crib tournament.

The theme for this year's gathering, Sharing the Responsibility to Care for Our Earth, was discussed during the morning round-table sessions.

There's a lot of oil and gas development in the area and the interest of first nations has to be considered in that, said Gairdner-Loe. The theme also incorporates the practices of hunting, fishing and trapping responsibly, she said.

The gathering is an annual part of Lucy Lomen's summer.

"It's good. You meet a lot of different people," said Lomen, who's from Fort Liard.

This year Lomen led a birchbark basket making workshop that involved 13 people.

"A lot of people they want to try a basket so it's good," she said.

Corrine Sassie of Fort Liard is also a regular participant. Sassie said she's glad that the gathering is both drug and alcohol free.

The drum dances are great and the atmosphere is always friendly, she said.

"They're so nice, they share everything. That's what getting together is all about," said Sassie.

Dolphus Codille said he enjoys seeing the friendships that are formed and renewed every year.

"It brings people together, that's the main thing," he said.

During the gathering, people put aside their differences to become one, said Codille, from Fort Liard.

"People who don't even know each other have a dance together holding hands," Codille said.