Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Liard (June 21/02) - Survivor, the reality television show, is coming to Fort Liard.

No, there won't be a television crew, viewing audience of millions, exotic location or $1 million prize. It's a homemade version devised by Acho Dene Koe youth co-ordinator Brian Mavin, who is assembling a group of 12 youth at the Muskeg River this weekend.

"They think it's wicked," Mavin said of the kids' reaction.

"Just to go out and do it, to get to stay in the bush, they kind of like that."

Mavin is planning four Survivor series this summer, each one lasting three days. There will be tribal councils and elimination votes, just like on television, he said.

For their first challenge, contestants will have to swim across the Muskeg River. Another challenge will emphasize teamwork, requiring each tribe to pull a large tire over a measured distance. A canoe race is also in the offing.

With participants of varying ages and abilities, the challenges won't just be physical, he noted.

"Obviously some kids are going to be more athletic than other kids. I didn't want to have it all based on athletics," Mavin explained. "For some of it, basically they will have to use their brain to find clues and find their food."

Other challenges will include map-reading skills and building a raft.

Safety will be top priority, according to Mavin.

"They're basically camping, and they're all given life-jackets."

The prize for the local equivalents to Survivor winners Richard Hatch, Tina Wesson, Ethan Zohn and Vecepia Towery hasn't yet been determined, but there will be one, Mavin promised, although the bragging rights may be the biggest reward of all.