Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Apr 02/04) - Antoine Tsetso can remember his father gripping a birch axe handle to split wood.

He grew up in the Fort Simpson area, and Tsetso can also recall riding on the back of a long and narrow wooden sleigh.

"I always did. It's the best wagon," he said, smiling.

Last week, Tsetso, with assistance from Alfred Saulteaux, passed on the wood-crafting skills he acquired from his father and other local elders. The Deh Cho Friendship Centre organized the one-week Dene woodwork course, sponsored by the Liidlii Kue First Nation.

Five youths were enroled in the course, which also included a Dene language component, as instructors told the participants the Slavey names of various items. Only Edwin Isaiah, 16, stuck it out until the final day.

"It's fun," Isaiah said. "It's better than staying home and playing games."

The hands-on training took place in Tsetso's home and in his garage. The floor of the latter location was covered with wood shavings. Wooden saw horses and several manual and electric tools were scattered about.

The three wooden sled planks, held together by cross-pieces, were rounded at one end. That job had been done by Trout Lake's Victor Jumbo. The nine-foot boards are steamed and bent, Tsetso explained.

In the past, the Dene commonly hitched dogs to their sleighs to transport wood, groceries or various supplies.

Nowadays, sleds are made of durable plastic moulds, and some models can even double as boats, Tsetso acknowledged. Although he is admittedly impressed by the latest technology, he maintained that the old-fashioned wooden sleighs are still superior in some ways.

"This one is cheaper," he said pointing to the birch version. He added that, thanks to power tools, the time invested in labour is nowhere near as intensive as it was when his father crafted sleighs with only an axe and a hand plane.

And the wooden variety has one other advantage:

"When it gets old you can use it for firewood, too," he said laughing.