FORT SIMPSON - In 1967 the experience of living on the land in the Deh Cho was a lot different than it is now.

One of the biggest differences was the use of dog sleds for transportation, according to Julia dePelham.

Julia dePelham earned first place among Class 7 competitors at the Historica Fair at Bompas elementary school. Her entry was based on information she gathered from her father about life on the land in 1967. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

"Nowadays hardly anyone uses dog teams," said dePelham.

Researching life on the land by interviewing her father Antoine Tsetso was part of dePelham's Historica Fair project that won her first place among Class 7 students at Bompas elementary school.

The information gleaned in the projects completed by students in Fort Simpson was on display in the Bompas gym Feb. 22 to 23.

Community members were invited to browse projects on a wide range of subjects about the Northwest Territories, from how to choose a sled dog team to the life of a lynx. Students completed projects on subjects like York boats and the De Havilland Beaver plane as well as on people such as Charlotte Bompas and Albert Faille.

A number of community members said this was one of the best displays of student work they have seen, said Terry Jaffray, the school's principal.

Subjects for the projects were a matter of personal choice.

Deidre Yakinneah turned her interest in birchbark baskets into a project that tied for second place in Class 7.

Yakinneah became interested in the baskets when she was younger after watching her mother Delores Deneyoua and her aunt making them, although she's never tried to make one herself. While doing research Yakinneah found out that the baskets have been around for a long time and are really hard to make.

To make a basket you need good bark. The best time to harvest birchbark is on a rainy day in June because the bark will be easier to peel than at other times, she said. The wax in the birchbark makes it waterproof so it is good for storing liquids.

Other tips include applying clay and dried grass to the pot so it can be used for cooking, said Yakinneah.

Madison Pilling's project, which won first place for Class 6 ,almost didn't happen.

Pilling's first choice was to learn about Alexander Mackenzie but she wanted a second option after hearing that lots of people had done that topic. Taking advice from her father Roger Pilling, she decided instead on Arctic explorer George Back.

Back went on lots of expeditions with Sir John Franklin and drew many of the maps and pictures for Franklin's books. Lots of people don't know about Back, but he affected the North because of his detailed maps, said Pilling.

"Franklin probably couldn't have done it without Back," she said.

Even when you have a topic, making a Historica Fair project is no easy matter. Pilling started research at the end of January and by working away at bits and pieces it took her more than five weeks to put her project together.

Although all students participated in the fair, prizes were awarded to the classes that did small group or individual work.