Philippe Morin
Northern News Services
Monday, July 16, 2007

INUVIK - If you ask Inuvik's Frank Stefansson where he learned his traditional skills, he'll tell you an amazing story.

"One year me and my brother stayed up on a hill from New Years 'till Easter, living in a seven-by-seven-foot tent. I was 14 and he was 17," he recalls.

Canadian Ranger and former deputy mayor of Cambridge Bay Frank Stefansson shows off his walking stick in Inuvik. He was explaining what could be learned from examining the wood grain, which is one of his many traditional skills. - Philippe Morin/NNSL photo

The year was 1955, and the hill was a frosty peak outside Aklavik.

Stefansson and his brother Sandy had been hired to scare away wolves to protect a local caribou herd, which had decided to stay for the winter.

Stefansson recalls his brother was more experienced outdoors.

"I mostly played cowboy and read Sergeant Preston comics, which were the RCMP comics available at the time," he said.

While Stefansson would eventually graduate to other jobs - he served as deputy mayor of Cambridge Bay for seven years and has been a repairman most of his life - he always kept close his memories of the land and they inspired him to seek adventure.

In his late 40s, he became a Canadian Ranger and thus followed in his father's footsteps.

Today, at 66, he still proudly wears a red Ranger shirt and hat on occasion, and attends the organization's meetings in Inuvik.

"You don't have to retire at any age," Stefansson said, adding many elders such as Inuvik's Abel Tingmiak are also Rangers.

Stefansson described his Ranger patrols of youth as "a patriotic chore, and a bit of adventure," which he feels helped him contribute to Canada.

He recalled living in Sachs Harbour for four years and teaching people survival skills such as iglu building and ways of keeping dry in the wilderness.

While Ranger work is difficult, he said he always felt good braving the elements.

"If someone is missing, we throw away the book that says you have to wait 24 hours. We go right now," he said proudly of the Ranger's role.

Despite the cold nights in frozen tents, the long patrols, canned rations and, he admits, getting lost in the wilderness a few times, Stefansson said he'd proudly serve again, if not for his use of a cane.

His wearing of the red Canadian Rangers hat and frequent telling of trail stories is a testament to that.

"The army couldn't live without us," he said laughing.