Inuvik - After 40 years, a pair of locally-made snowshoes are back in the region.

The snowshoes were presented to the Inuvik Centennial Library last week by Archie Kanill.

Head librarian Bev Garven accepts the donation of a pair of snowshoes made in 1964 from Archie Kanill, who was part of the original Imperial Oil exploration team in the region. He had been given the snowshoes as a gift and wanted to bring them home for the anniversary. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

Kanill spent some time in Fort McPherson and in the Inuvik region back in his days working for Imperial Oil.

"I was a part of the original exploration crew that came here in 1964," he said.

"We established our base camp in Fort McPherson."

Kanill said he spent time in Inuvik in 1965.

In 1966, he returned to Fort McPherson, then in 1967 the camp he worked at was relocated to Tsiigehtchic.

He said he probably spent 17 years living in the Territories before retiring from Imperial Oil.

In 1964 he met Ronnie and Laura Pascal. Ronnie made the pair of snowshoes.

"It's really a lost art," said Kanill.

"I heard there is only one other man who makes them with his hands anymore in the region."

Kanill remembered that Ronnie Pascal was renowned for his work with the traditional snowshoes.

"They were all handmade by him and his wife," said Kanill.

For the former resident of the region, bringing back the snowshoes was important because this is where they came from.

"I knew I wanted to bring them back for the anniversary," he said.

Kanill said he used the snowshoes about six times before hanging them up at home. Now living in Atlin, B.C., Kanill is still very much a part of the Northern life.

"I'm not that far from the Yukon border," he said.

Head librarian Bev Garven said the snowshoes will be put on display in the library once a mount is made and a place is found for the artifacts.