Fort Good Hope (Nov 22/04) - It's just another weekend in Fort Good Hope. Jonathan Tobac is getting his chainsaw fuelled up before going out to gather wood with his friend John Ellton.

There's a teen dance at the community centre, highlighted by a performance from a recently formed band that plays a lot of Guns and Roses music. John Ellton is the drummer, and the other members include Jordon Tobac, Janette Kakfwi, Billy Shae and Dillon Jones.

RCMP Cpl. Donna Rorison is anxiously awaiting the opening of the curling club. Although it's still a few weeks off, the -28C weather has her keen to get back into the hack.

Gloria Kelly is making blueberry tarts for a bake sale that's going to take place at the Ramparts Hotel.

Tammy Proctor is recently back from a pipeline construction training program in Alberta and she's excited about what the future will hold for her and the other 500 or so Fort Good Hope residents.

Everywhere you turn people are enjoying winter's arrival.

"Life is good here, the people are friendly," said Verron Ellton, who just started a new job delivering fuel for the Co-op in October. One of the perks of the job is that he gets to visit with friends and neighbours along his route.

"I love to go out on my Skidoo with my friends," he said.

There's a small house across the road from an outdoor stage, which was built to host the community's annual music festival. Inside the home, 72-year-old Thomas Manuel sits and talks with his long-time friend, 67-year-old Edward Gardebois, who is preparing a wolf he caught recently around the town.

"People here in Fort Good Hope are friendly, kind people," said Manuel, who for 32 years was the community health representative. "Like Edward (Gardebois) here, whatever he gets he gives to the community and shares with people who are hungry."

In the summer, Gardebois takes to the water in search of fish.

"Whatever he catches, he gives it out," said Manuel. "It feeds many older people in the community."

Without Gardebois' selfless efforts, Manuel said many would be forced to go without.

Worried by the future

Manuel said he worries today's youth aren't learning traditions like fishing and trapping -- and the more traditions are lost, the harder life in the North becomes.

"I hope our ways aren't forgotten," said Manuel.

Manuel said parents must help the next generation grow up with proper values and respect for all those around them. He added wisdom passed down to him by him grandfather is no less true today.

"When you raise a family, you have to realize your children watch everything you do," said Manuel. "They don't forget what they see, it's like they take a picture and keep it forever."

Remembering a time before Fort Good Hope was opened to southern influences, the two say it would be nice if all of the North could return to those healthier ways.

"Before we had alcohol, everybody was brothers and sisters," said Manuel. "Now the government makes millions from alcohol and nothing comes back to us to help heal those with addictions."

He said the federal and territorial governments need to do more to put control and funding in the hands of the communities.

"We should be able to decide what we want done," he said. "We're no longer children to be told what to do."

They also point to television as a major problem in the North.

"When we grew up, nobody came at anyone with a knife or a gun and there weren't any sexual assaults," said Gardebois, adding, kids now see that type of behaviour on television and think that's the cool way to behave.

"We don't want to lose our next generation," said Manuel.