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The great Nahanni River adventure Four schools offer students extraordinary trek
Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Published Monday, June 24, 2013
NAHANNI NATIONAL PARK RESERVE
Four schools in the NWT joined forces earlier this month to offer some of their students an experience in an extraordinary part of the NWT - the Nahanni River.
Macheala Larocque, a Grade 9 student at Deninu School in Fort Resolution, sits beside the Nahanni River. - photo courtesy of Deninu School |
Dan Summers, the principal of Fort Resolution's Deninu School and the trip's co-ordinator, called it an inspiring and spiritually-enlightening journey.
"It was just a fabulous, fabulous event," he said of the excursion that ran from June 1 to 8.
The students - aged 13-19 - travelled the Nahanni River from Virginia Falls to Nahanni Butte, a total of 210 kilometres.
Jake Basil, a graduate of Lutsel K'e School, enjoyed the trip and the surroundings.
"It was breathtaking," he said, adding he particularly liked the canyons because they were so big, straight and vertical.
Basil said, on the trip, he learned, among other things, how to control a raft and how to read a river.
The 19 year old said he would definitely recommend a Nahanni River adventure to any other young person.
"You can't miss that trip," he said.
Along with Deninu School and Lutsel K'e School, the students came from Chief Sunrise Education Centre on Hay River Reserve and Deh Gah School in Fort Providence.
The trip was called the X-School Leadership Canoe Event, with the X-School meaning cross-school in reference to the four involved.
"The kids started off a little nervous with each other and by mid-trip they were helping with camp chores, and by the end of the trip, some of them were even teary-eyed that they had to say goodbye," said Summers.
This was the third year for such an excursion.
"The first year we went down the Slave River from Fort Smith to Fort Resolution. The second year we did the Little Buffalo and then this year we did the Nahanni," said Summers. "Plans are in the making to potentially look at next year doing the Coppermine."
The two previous river adventures involved canoeing, but the Nahanni River excursion involved rafts and inflatable kayaks.
"This is the next level. It's progressing. Kids are familiar with the water," said Summers, adding it was a bit more challenging and certainly more isolated.
Students learn the fundamentals of water and bush safety, leadership decision-making, camp preparations, event planning and team building.
The excursions are also designed to promote a greater appreciation for traditional aboriginal ways, leadership opportunities, and the importance of cross-school and cross-community interaction.
Much of the Nahanni River adventure was in Nahanni National Park Reserve, but the participants also travelled and camped in Blackstone Territorial Park.
Summers said if all goes as planned, next year's adventure will be even bigger and better with more participants.
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