Itinerary

Accompanied by a respected Chipeweyan Dene' Native Elder, join us on this very special first-time expedition to the historical & spiritually-rich Dene' lands, past the tree-line at the upper Thelon River!  

Starting from Yellowknife, we will fly 120 airmiles by floatplane to the traditional Dene' settlement of Lutsel K'e on the spectacular Eastern Arm of Great Slave Lake.  After a warm greeting by the locals, we will spend a few hours on the ground, including a local tour of this truly unique & remote Dene' Indian settlement. During this time will have the opportunity to shop a bit for local native arts & crafts, and meet and talk with the friendly people that live here.

Then, along with one of the respected native elders joining us, we will re-board the floatplane for another 120 mile charter flight out past the tree-line to the beginning of the eastern tundra plains - the land of littlesticks.

Here we will stay at a comfortable, fully catered camp at one of the most remote locations in North America - the headwaters of the Thelon River! 

This region - this land of littlesticks - is considered to be a very special area of both historical & spiritual significance to the Chipeweyan Dene'. During the course of this incredible two weeks out on the land, we will journey to some of the secret sites of their ancestors, and learn about many of their traditional ways.
 
While spending quality time with a Dene' elder, we will learn many things about their traditional lifestyle, and have the opportunity to travel with them on the water and lands.

Often accompanied by the elder - whose ancestors once lived and hunted here at this remote land - we will make daily walks through history on the incredibly beautiful tundra esker landscapes...    

During the long evening twilight, we will often join the elders at their campfire - hear stories of old, and perhaps learn a bit about the magic of the lands an waters around us...

During this special week we will visit an abandoned 'turn-of-the century  Dene’ settlement. By boat and short treks, we will travel to ancient archaeological sites of the nomadic Talthelei peoples that once ventured through this area on their forever search for 'etthen' - caribou; at the face of the last glacial period...

We will show our respect at a old native burial site, and trek a remote, centuries-old portage route used through history by early native hunters and barrenland trappers alike.

During this time of season, participants are also likely to view tundra wolves during the secondary stage den cycle, active 'cross-fox' dens, sic-sics, and encounter musk-oxen - all in their natural habitat. 

Also at this time of year, barrenland caribou bulls from the Bathurst & Beverly herds often begin filtering into the upper Thelon River area in singles and small groups, while waiting for the cow & calf bunches to arrive en-route from the calving grounds to the north.

If the caribou are around at that time as they usually are, you may well have the privilege of observing the Dene' elder hunt a caribou, and then to watch the age-old ritual of filleting and preparing the meat, and to see for yourself the great respect and inter-relationship between native man and the animals that present themselves as gifts...

We will also likely see an abundance of shorebirds, waterfowl & raptors such as rough-legged hawk, peregrine & gyrfalcon.Boats and motors are on hand at the basecamp, and during this brief Arctic summer period, fishing is excellent for lake trout and Arctic grayling (catch & release).  Fishing equipment is also available on site.   

Then, during the last few days of the tour, we have received a special and rarely-granted invitation to join the Dene' people on their annual Spiritual Gathering on the extreme east end of Great Slave Lake, very near to the historical site of Old Fort Reliance.  Here we will join the tribe as they conduct ceremonial dances, meetings,  nightly gatherings and storytelling. 

While at the Spiritual Gathering, we will mingle here with the Chipeweyan Dene' families, perhaps meet and play with their children; meet many more pf the elders, join many of their family campfires, and learn of their ways. 

While here, we will stay in ground tents and cook over open fires in the traditional way.  We will observe traditional tee-pee, and see fish & caribou & moose meat smoked & dried over traditional hand-made drying racks.

We will then cumulate this very special tour with a short flight from the Gathering, to the sacred holy grounds of Perry Falls - one of the largest waterfalls in the NWT - where will will hike to the spiritual site, and learn the story of the 'Lady in the Falls'.

Then, we will fly down the East Arm Park Reserve of Great Slave Lake back to Yellowknife, and the end of one of the most spiritual adventures of your lives!

Truly the native elders of the Chipeweyan Dene' are the last great knowledge-holders of the remaining extensive tracts of Canadian mainland wilderness called the barrenlands. The Europeans who once attempted to lay claim to its discovery were in reality just simply just 'passing through', and probably could not have done even that without the help of the natives that had always lived here - those who were in tune with the rhythms of the land, waters & animals - indeed, those people whose very lives - and the lives of their children - depended on their knowledge to survive in the wild...

A truly special & unique opportunity to travel with the Northern Native Elders, join in some of their spiritual ceremonies, and to visit some of their remote traditional  lands, waters and holy grounds!