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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Keenan Kakfwi got a phone call while living in British Columbia, asking him if he'd like to go to Antarctica.

Within four days, the former Yellowknifer was there.

Keenan Kakfwi sat on Antarctic ice as he visited Antarctica two weeks ago. - photo courtesy of Keenan Kakfwi Cutline:

"I got a call from (Dene nation Grand Chief) Bill Erasmus asking me if I wanted to go. I couldn't pass it up. He asked a few people, so it wasn't confirmed that I was going until two days later, then he flew me back to Yellowknife, and I left for Antarctica the next day," Kakfwi told Yellowknifer.

The trip is run by Robert Swan, a member of the Order of the Royal Empire who is a polar explorer, public speaker, and a leader in environmentalism.

The program, named 2041, is put on to educate people on the effect of climate change on the Earth's south pole.

Swan is quoted on his website explaining his mission:

"As the last unspoilt wilderness on Earth, Antarctica is currently protected by a treaty prohibiting drilling and mining until 2041. Decisions made by today's youth will impact our entire planet's ecosystem and the future of life on earth."

Kakfwi said he had an amazing adventure while learning about climate change.

"We went through Drake Passage, which is notorious for big waves and winds, and it was bad," Kakfwi said with a laugh. "I didn't bring anything for sea sickness, figuring that I'd be able to handle it.

"I spent the two days we were crossing the passage in bed, didn't eat anything or even move. I've never experienced seasickness before then."

Kakfwi also experienced the exotic wildlife, whale watching and interacting with penguins.

"We went on this island full of penguins and they don't care, they're more interested in us than in running away from us. They'd come up and nip at our shoes."

Kakfwi also brought his Dene culture to the south.

"We walked to the top of a glacier, and I brought tobacco to the top, knelt, and lay it on the glacier. It's a Dene tradition, and that's my culture. It is done to thank the creator, and to give back for the beautiful days and the incredible trip," said Kakfwi.

"Everyone was very interested in my culture, and I would have personal talks with a lot of people about it."

He also used his Northern knowledge to help out the other people on the trip while they camped on land for a night.

"We hitched up tents, dug out tent holes, and Robert Swan came up and asked me, out of all the people, 'Keenan, young boy, we need a wind wall.' So I saw that there was a bunch of shovels laying around - I grabbed one and started cutting out blocks of snow and stacking them in a wall. Then everyone grabbed a shovel and started cutting blocks with me, or grabbed the blocks I was cutting and we made a bunch of walls to shelter from the wind. It worked great," said Kakfwi.

"I brought the Arctic to the Antarctic."

Seeing some of the most dramatic effects of climate change first-hand has inspired Kakfwi to take action in the North to reduce our carbon footprint, he said.