June 25, 2018
All photos courtesy of Sahtu Adventures
Over thousands of years, the Dene people in the Sahtu Region passed down stories, legends and history; sharing them amongst family during community feasts and drum dances.
The story of Yamoria and the three beavers was one of those stories. It’s a favourite of James McPherson and Jennie Vandermeer who hope to now share the story with visitors through their tour company, Sahtu Adventures.
Photo: Jennie Vandermeer and James McPherson of Sahtu Adventures.
“The storytelling element is one that comes naturally during tours because the landscape you see is so influenced by those legends,” says James. While the duo’s business operates out of Norman Wells, they offer tours to other areas of the Sahtu Region.
“Yamoria shot three arrows at the beavers in front of Tulita and those are still visible today – they are three logs that don’t move no matter how much the river jams up with ice in the winter,” James explains. “There is also red sand in the spot where Yamoria is said to have skinned the beavers and when he cooked the beaver meat over a fire, the grease and fat drained into the ground. Some people will see smoke at 12 mile creek and think there’s a fire, but it’s Yamoria cooking the beavers.”
The duo is meeting with elders to learn the stories of their ancestors and ensure that they are sharing them accurately. Though Vandermeer is fluent in North Slavey, they have added support from her mother who works as an interpreter and provides advice on spelling and phonetics. Jennie is from Deline and James is from Tulita and the experiences they share with visitors have been shaped by their upbringing.
“We want to incorporate Dene place names and words into our tours so visitors get a true experience of this amazing place through our eyes,” says Jennie.
Reconnecting with Culture through Tourism
Re-learning stories, perfecting pronunciations and discussing wildlife habits with elders are just a few of the ways that McPherson and Vandermeer are reconnecting with their culture through their tourism business.
“Around the world you see tour guides who are eager to share their traditions and culture. The north shouldn’t be any different. We’re proud to share the history and survival skills that made our people who they are today. It’s been a very moving and powerful experience,” says James.
From watching a herd of caribou traverse a rock bar on the Keele River to capturing the eerie “conversation” between two lynx, Sahtu Adventures’ tours leave visitors awed and inspired. (Videos of both of those encounters can be seen on Sahtu Adventures Facebook page).
Sahtu Adventures is a new company offering a variety of tours including a day trip from Norman Wells to Tulita to hike Bear Rock, as well as boating excursions and fishing. Canoeing, paddle boarding and shoal tents (see picture) will be available this summer.
Indigenous cultural tourism is celebrated year-round in the Northwest Territories. In recognition of National Indigenous Peoples Day, which was on June 21, we’re sharing a special blog series that profiles some of the NWT’s local tourism operators who share Indigenous culture as part of their tours.