LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
From Dorset culture to the differences and similarities between drum dancing and break dancing, 12 Deh Cho students were eager to share information about a topic they were passionate about last week.

Zehro'h Waugh, 13, used two models to illustrate his project on The Valley of the Headless Men for the Deh Cho Regional Heritage Fair that was held in Fort Simpson April 10. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Bompas Elementary School hosted the Deh Cho Regional Heritage Fair April 10. A dozen students including one from Fort Liard, two from Thomas Simpson School and nine who were chosen at Bompas' school heritage fair two weeks ago, were queried on their project by three judges.

Heritage fairs are about encouraging students to connect with something that is significant to them, said Brian Jaffray, the Deh Cho regional co-ordinator for the heritage fair.

Students are judged on a variety of things including historical content and knowledge, their research process, the originality and creativity of their display and how well they can talk about their project. Jaffray finds projects that have an inter-generational connection between students and older family members particularly meaningful.

"It makes the history come more alive when they have a connection," he said.

Megan Steeves of Fort Liard connected with her aunt Violet while researching her project about smudging. Her aunt helped her with the necessary information and got her samples of some of the medicines as well as a shell for smudging and a medicine pouch for her display.

"That each of the medicines has different powers," is one thing Steeves said she learned during her research.

Information on Steeves' display board outlined how sweetgrass gets rid of negative energy, sage offers strength, wisdom and clarity of purpose and cedar attracts positive energy, feelings and emotions. Steeves, 12, said she enjoys going to the regional fairs because she likes to meet new people.

Arron Antoine of Fort Simpson chose to focus on a topic he's immersed in – judo.

Having practiced judo for a while, Antoine, 12, said he wanted to learn more about its history. He researched about Kano Jigoro, who founded judo in Japan.

Antoine got some information from Dean Harvey, the sensai of the Fort Simpson Judo Club and also interviewed Michinori Yanase, one of the club's assistant coaches.

"I enjoyed it, it was good," he said about creating the project.

Zehro'h Waugh, one of two entrants from Thomas Simpson School, picked a more local topic. After his dad Jake mentioned it, Waugh started to research the Valley of the Headless Men.

Located in the Nahanni National Park Reserve, there have been more than 40 mysterious deaths or disappearances in the valley including the deaths of brothers Frank and Willie McLeod who's headless remains were discovered near their intact cabin, said the 13-year-old.

"There's many different theories," Waugh said about what happened.

Martin Jorgenson, a Swiss prospector, was also found dead and headless in the valley the early 1900s near his cabin that had been burnt.

Waugh's dad helped him build two models, complete with miniature cabins and headless skeletons to illustrate the valley's grizzly history.

"It was pretty interesting," he said.