Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

AKLAVIK
Ella Archie decided to join the Canadian Rangers in 2002 at the encouragement of her husband, Ranger Peter. A decade later, she's still committing her time as a Ranger and passing on her enthusiasm to the youth of Aklavik through the Junior Rangers Program.

Canadian Ranger Ella Archie, an adult leader with the Junior Ranger patrol in Aklavik, grips a throw bag rope as she is pulled to shore from the Yukon River during swift water rescue training on June 28 in Whitehorse. The exercise was part of the week-long Enhanced Training Session for Junior Rangers from the North. - photo courtesy of Captain Stephen Watton First Canadian Ranger Patrol Group

When the Junior Rangers program came to Aklavik in 2004, Archie, who was born and raised in Aklavik, was able to better help young people learn the skills she had learned during her time with the First Canadian Ranger Patrol Group.

As a Ranger, Archie participates in exercises throughout the year, particularly in the winter, she said. The longest exercise and the year's major event spans 10 days during which the Rangers participate in on-the-land travelling, traditional skill development, target practise, mapping, tracking and safety training. Prior to leaving on the exercise, Rangers participate in classroom sessions to learn about the Canadian Forces, exercise preparations and to integrate new recruits into the group.

Archie said there is also a marksmanship competition called "Top Shot" once per year where winners can advance from community to regional to national competitions.

In order to join the Rangers, Archie and a friend notified the Sergeant in their area and attended the local classroom sessions.

"So we showed up, made sure we went to all of the classes and made sure we never missed at day," she said. "Then at the end we had a parade where they announced (the 2002) Top Shot and gave the ranger hats to the new recruits, saying they were officially a Ranger. It was a proud moment."

Archie said she now takes a lot of pride in the performance of her own children in Junior Rangers.

Aged 16 and 14, both her son and daughter have been in Junior Rangers since they were 12, the earliest age at which youth can join.

"It's been great working with them," she said. "My youngest can't wait until he's 12 so he can join Junior Rangers and he's nine."

Archie's most recent endeavour with the Rangers was escorting four Aklavik Junior Rangers to the Enhanced Training Session in Whitehorse. Archie worked alongside her Junior Rangers as they worked through various training and adventure programs over the course of a week.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.