Brent Reaney
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 26/05) - A group of youth and their guides transported themselves, and their gear, on a six-day canoe trip, recently.

Leaving from Dettah, Aug. 9, the 10 youth and four guides spent most of the day travelling west to an island on Mason Lake.

On the second last day, a moose was spotted across the bay from the camp. After the kill, everyone worked together to cut and clean the animal, then bring it back to camp.

They returned five days later.

"They felt it was a lot of work, but they felt pretty good about what they did and saw," said Bobby Drygeese, who co-ordinated the trip.

To help keep their heads clear, electronics such as portable game or CD players, were also banned. In the past, Drygeese said he has thrown these types of things in the lake.

A number of old traditional trails had begun to grow over with trees, and weed, so the group cut down trees to help clear the way. They also cleaned old grave sites, and explored the land while hunting fishing and gathering roots and berries.

Drygeese said leaders talked with the youth about the past, and the future.

"When the elders are gone, they're going to be taking over the leadership, so they have to understand more about the land, and more about the traditional way of life," he said.

On the second last day, a moose was spotted across the bay from the camp.

After the kill, Drygeese said everyone worked together to cut and clean the animal, then bring it back to camp.

Even with the extra weight of the moose meat, Drygeese said the trail back was a lot easier because the youth wanted to see their families and sleep in their beds.

Aside from Drygeese, guides were Modeste Sangris, Morris Martin, and Margaret Martin.