DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE - Wood bison aren't much for dialogue and nuanced acting but they have a great screen presence, according an amateur filmmaker.

Chris McCarthy, an amateur filmmaker and musician, made the Mackenzie River and wood bison the focus for his video camera while living in Fort Providence. - photo courtesy of Chris McCarthy

Chris McCarthy is best known in Fort Providence as a high school teacher. McCarthy, however, has also been experimenting with filmmaking and composing and performing songs since approximately 2006.

"It's been a bit of a hobby of mine," he said.

"Living in the North for a long time you have to make your own fun."

While living in Fort Providence for two years McCarthy, who's now teaching in Behchoko, set to work capturing the scenery and wildlife in and around the community. The result is Deh Cho, a 19-minute video accompanied by original songs McCarthy recently posted on YouTube.

McCarthy describes Deh Cho as a cross between a documentary and a long-form music video. He decided to forego any type of narration in favour of allowing people to experience the video on their own.

"People can watch it and just enjoy it for what it is," he said.

Wood bison are the stars of the video.

"Bison are pretty docile creatures but I find them interesting," he said.

McCarthy kept his eyes open for the animals while driving out of the community towards the ice road and while making trips to Yellowknife. He was rewarded one day by the sight of a bison swimming in the Mackenzie River near a grassy point.

"I was at the right place at the right time," he said.

"I was really lucky to capture that."

McCarthy also filmed bison grazing on lawns in the community and along the sides of the highway. With his video camera in hand McCarthy got as close as 10 feet from his subjects.

"They'll let you know when you're too close," he said.

Warning signs include having the animals stop eating and turn toward you and stare. For the most part, however, they lose interest in you after a while and then you can see their normal behaviour, McCarthy said.

Mosquitoes are also featured in the video. McCarthy estimates he received hundreds of mosquito bites while filming during the spring and summer of 2010.

In addition to wildlife the Mackenzie River and Lady Evelyn Falls are prominent in the video. Now that he's living in the Tlicho, McCarthy said the Mackenzie River is one of the sights he misses the most.

McCarthy said he hopes Deh Cho shows off the region's scenery to those who have never seen it and helps to promote Fort Providence and the surrounding area.

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