LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - Devan Cli never met his great-great grandparents, but thanks to a school project he now knows their names and a bit about what Fort Simpson was like while they were alive.

He and his classmates in the remediation and enrichment class at Thomas Simpson School recently completed a project to chart family trees, the village's history and how the two intertwine.

Student teacher Sharon Allen, back centre, assists Ernest Tsetso, front left, Ethan Moreau-Betsaka, Darius Sabourin and Scot Humphrey with their portion of a timeline charting Fort Simpson's history. Students in the remediation and enrichment class at Thomas Simpson School tracked the village's history from 1700 to the present and their links to it. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Teacher Teresa Bezanson-Byatt developed the idea for the program, but it was student-teacher Sharon Allen who planned and implemented it. Allen, who is completing her third year of a Bachelor of Education degree, did her final practicum at the school. Getting students involved in projects like this one is particularly meaningful, Allen said.

"It's important for them to learn who they are and where they come from because it defines their identity," said Allen.

"It really shows students where they belong, it connects them to their land."

From Feb. 15 to 23, the class traced the village's history from the year 1700 on, using a variety of sources - including maps of trails and traditional place names from Liidlii Kue First Nation, photos from the Fort Simpson Historical Society and Internet research. Local historian Stephen Rowan also put on two presentations for the students.

"They are enthusiastic, they are excited," Allen said of his audience.

The students discovered the major events in the history of the aboriginal community and the village, Allen said. After tracking Fort Simpson's history the students used genealogical information provided by Raymond Michaud to trace their family tree and link it to historical events.

Prior to completing the project, Devan Cli's knowledge of his family history stopped at his grandparents. He now knows that his great-great grandparents were Joseph Cli and Dora Grossetete on his dad's side, and Henry Squirrel and Ira Hardisty on his mother's side.

"It's pretty good to know your great-great grandpa and your great-great grandma," he said.

Cli also knows some interesting things about the village, such as claims that people saw a bushman, a creature with long hair and a big beard, around Fort Simpson and Fort Liard in 1964. He also learned about the experimental farm that used to be located in the village.

"They were able to grow watermelons here? Cool," he said.

Fellow student Ernest Tsetso learned the rectory was moved across the village in 1921 and the hospital burned in 1930.

"I never knew there was so many things that happened in the past in Simpson," said Tsetso.

"It's such a small town you don't expect it."