Ryan those school programs that are run in the NWT are great. Friends have their kids in Yellowknife schools and when they come back the kids are really gun-hoe to help grandpa when the times comes.
There is not going to be enough room on the fur shed wall for all the Top Lot awards to be hung now

Some pics from when I used to do Take A Kid Trapping, We took them out on a muskox hunt, I never got Ryan on any of those programs.

We did get Paul Trepis to teach wolf snaring and the Legend Jim Gibb to teach wolverine skinning.
I really want to get Marty Mourioto to come up and teach line cabin building. Maybe one of these years. Any one know if he is still active I heard he retired last year. Dont know if it was just from smoke jumping or trapping also.

One more of elders from Rendevous Lake came and taught us to build dead fall traps. I cut the logs ahead of time and they told me the kill logs were too small and light.

Not TAKT but Ryan cleanning up abandoned fuel drums. Had to get back to his blog.

Can I be a kid for the next musk ox hunt ha ha that's a bucket list item of mine .

Congratulations to those of you who give back to the kids !

Geez my travelling clothes were brand new in that picture. I still use that parka but it’s more grey than black now.

That just about does it don’t it?

I think I’m done until August. Went and chased spring for one last trip.
Passed a lot of fighting rats before getting into good lakes with ice at the furthest point north of the ride. Fur quality improved the further north we travelled. Probably let 5-6 go for every one we shot but still got a decent batch of good Muskies.

Nice run on spring rats
Did notice that Jimmy had red hair back in that day.

Hauling drums ended like this

With results that good haul more drums Ryan !

North of 50 I may not know Jimmy but he's not the only one that once had red hair ha ha !

Yup. We Went up last day to pick up the last two drums and spotted 8. Got 7 and could’ve got he last one but was short of gas. I did end up running out about 10 minutes out of town. Always thought I Should’ve just got the 8th one seeing that I ran out of gas anyways.

I’m pretty sure this is the first picture I took a long time ago when I first wanted to carry a camera. Second picture was 8 black wolves climbing a mountain. Just black dots but I sure felt like a photographer. I think I was 12. Borrowed my moms Kodak camera.

Found it. Easy to see the four walking broadside. The other 4 are to the right of those ones. Angling up hill right to left. Always thought I could see a Couple more up high in the picture but we clearly seen all 8 black ones eating someone’s caribou that they buried and meant to pick up. My grandpa let me drive closer to check them out but he told me not to get my self into any trouble. About two months later is when he finally gave me permission to try get a lone grey wolf we spotted at first daylight. I had a lot of room and my grandpa was sitting on a hill where he could watch everything

Filling the stretchers. Got sleepy waiting for these pelts to thaw but still have to do them. Chilly evening. Better make a small fire and get busy

Should have let Bobby nap after school would have had helper and entertainment.

I’m posting with a very heavy heart today. My father in law passed away suddenly this past Monday. Mervin always made sure i had what I needed for hunting. He loved his family, he loved his grandchildren and he loved his boat. He was always supportive of anything I did on the land and I’ll never forget the encouragement he gave me in his usual way. One year when I was living out at my camp during trapping season I woke up to a cold windy day. Low visibility. I had some traps that needed to be checked in the back channel by Mackenzie so I got ready and started out for the day. As I travelled along wondering what the heck I was doing out here in this weather I spotted movement in the blizzard. Next thing I know I could see a skidoo light coming along. I wondered who else is crazy enough to be out in this blizzard. Anyways as we got closer I recognized Mervin. He knew the land and wasn’t Afraid of a little storm. We pulled up to each other and gave a big hug.

What the heck you’re doing out in this weather I asked?

I don’t want you to run low on gas so I brought you 30 gallons he said.

I said well go warm up at the camp I just loaded the stove before I left.

No no no Im going to turn back before the weather gets any worst he said

So I took his sled and just before we parted he said wait I almost forgot something.

He pulled out a 12 pack of Pepsi for me.

He named his boat INGLANGAHAURUQ (ING-LUNG-Ah- HAR-UCK)
After Bobby’s inuvialuit name which he also gave Bobby when he was born. Mervin loved that the kids were growing up learning everything I could teach them about hunting and trapping and I will continue to do so.




“Life is full of storms. Waves crash and winds blow. Chaos and confusion surround us in the storm but eventually the winds will slow and calm waters will come again.”
-Ryan

God Bless,Time keeps on flowing like a river to the sea.

very sorry to hear of your loss. it sounds like he was a great inspiration to the generations that came after him. im sure hes very proud of how youre passing on the traditions, that he passed on to you. God bless!

Thanks. It’s my father in law. I learned things from him but My traditional knowledge comes from my parents and grandparents.

Hate to hear of your loss, Ryan. From what you wrote I am confident there is comfort in knowing the love that man had for his family. Keep moving forward as you know he would have wanted you to.