John Curran
Northern News Services
Published Monday, June 02, 2008
RADILIH KOE/FORT GOOD HOPE - During the recent Take a Kid Trapping excursions involving youngsters from Fort Good Hope, organizers said they were impressed by all of the students.
The hunting skills of one participant in particular, however, really stood out.
While visiting Gene and Camilla Rabisca's cabins for a few days, 16-year-old Bradley Kelly managed to shoot a wolf and a moose. The meat more than fed him, his classmates and the other participants on the trip, with plenty left to share among community members upon their returning home.
"I've been hunting since I was a kid," said Kelly.
"That wasn't the first moose I've shot - just the first one this year."
He credits his skills to getting to observe his father while hunting and trapping over many years.
"I've gone out with my Dad, Gordon Kelly, many times."
His father said he is proud of his son's skills on the land and only wished he had more time get out hunting himself in recent years.
"Bradley goes out by himself now a lot of the time," he said. "He'll go out towards Colville Lake for a couple of days caribou hunting, but I have to work six days a week."
Being on the land is something the younger Kelly said he cherishes a great deal.
"I really like going out - whether it's alone or with others. You get to experience our traditions," he said. "You're following in the footsteps of our ancestors."
In school, Kelly is a quiet student who mainly focuses on his work, said Chief T'Selehye school teacher Harry MacNeil.
"He doesn't seem to ever get in trouble with his teachers from what I've seen," he said, adding the youngster is even a standout in some classes.
"He's done very well in the woodworking shop, for example; he really thrives in hands-on learning situations."
Kelly said he hopes to be able to put his woodshop skills to good use in a hands-on way.
"I haven't got a cabin of my own yet for hunting," he said. "When I find the right spot, hopefully I'll be able to build it myself."
