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DEH CHO - A Canadian Ranger sovereignty patrol successfully began and ended in the Deh Cho.

Escorted by four members of the Fort Simpson patrol, Ranger Sgt. Dan Ring from Yellowknife and Ranger Cpl. George Aklah of Taloyoak returned to Fort Providence on Aug. 13 after a 14-day trip on the Mackenzie River.

Members of the Ranger patrol set out from Jean Marie River escorting the last leg of the Ranger sovereignty patrol on Aug. 13. Participants include, from left, Ranger Eliza Jane Chalifoux, Ranger Dennis Nelner, Ranger Sgt. Dan Ring, Ranger Bob Amundson, Ranger Cpl. George Aklah and Ranger Gordie Villeneuve. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photos

"Everything went well, no hiccups, and that's a good thing," said Ring.

The two men launched their motorboat and began the journey from Fort Providence on July 31 escorted by four members from the local patrol.

At each community along the river, two new boats and four Rangers from that patrol joined Ring and Aklah while the members from the previous community returned home.

Participating patrols included Fort Providence, Fort Simpson, Wrigley, Fort Good Hope who joined the trip in Norman Wells, Tsiigehtchic, Inuvik and Aklavik. Ring and Aklah reached Inuvik on Aug. 5 and then started the return journey.

The purpose of the patrol was to provide surveillance coverage of the Ranger's area of operations, said Ring. During the patrol nothing out of the ordinary was observed, he said.

The last patrol on the Mackenzie River was conducted four years ago.

The patrol was also designed to develop relations between the patrols and challenge the Rangers' skills, Ring said.

"It was a good trip," he said.

The group's only delay came on Aug. 13 when they had to replace the prop on their boat in Fort Simpson.

Being part of a trip like this is one of the best parts of being a Ranger, said Cpl. George Aklah.

When Aklah received a call from 1 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group (1 CRPG) headquarters in Yellowknife asking if he wanted to be part of the sovereignty patrol he said "why not?" This was Aklah's first trip on the Mackenzie.

"I enjoyed it," he said.

Highlights of the trip included seeing bison and grizzly bears and meeting Rangers from different patrols.

While making a brief stop in Jean Marie River on Wednesday before continuing on to the finish in Fort Providence, Ranger Eliza Jane Chalifoux of Fort Simpson said she was enjoying the new experience.

"This is my first time ever up to Providence by boat," she said.

Chalifoux also accompanied the patrol to Wrigley at the beginning of the trip along with Rangers Bob Amundson, Paul Guyot and Rozsika Cazon.

"It's just a good run up the Mackenzie," said Bob Amundson about participating in the sovereignty patrol.

"It's just a good run up the Mackenzie."