Nahanni Moose Skin Boat
Donation protected
In June 2018, members of the Dehcho First Nations will build a 40-foot moose skin boat the way their ancestors did, and take it on a 27-day journey through one of the most mystical and magnificent parts of their traditional land, found within the Nahanni National Park Reserve. The boat will travel through canyons greater than the Grand Canyon and past falls higher than Niagara, through territory steeped in Dene history and legend! Once the boat is built it will travel down the Nahanni River, be airlifted over Virginia Falls, and continue onwards through a series of spectacular canyons before arriving in the community of Nahanni Butte. From there they will journey North on the Liard River and the trip will end at the confluence of the Liard and Mackenzie Rivers, at the community of Fort Simpson
This project will be captured on film and made into the feature documentary Nahanni River of Forgiveness for CBC Documentary, which will be seen by hundreds of thousands of people.
Dehcho First Nations Grand Chief, Herb Norwegian, has been envisioning this project for over 2 decades and is one of the main proponents.
'Norwegian said the name for the trip came from people who have travelled the river who describe it as a cleansing and sacred experience.
"Anytime people have journeyed through there and they find they've come through and they have arrived at their destination, they have the sense of being forgiven, for some reason or another they feel that they've been cleansed," he said.
Norwegian said the journey signifies that Indigenous people and their way of life are still vibrant and thriving.
"We're trying to showcase our story that we can continue to live and put our wet moccasins on the ground and continue to live with the land and have great respect for the very thing that we do," he said.
"It's about imagery, it's about respect, it's about spiritualism, it's about cleansing yourself and showing the world that you know we're on the road to recovery and we're doing everything we can to get to that point."' - CBC News North
If you would like a charitable receipt for your donation you can also donate to this project via the Fort Simpson Historical Society
https://www.fortsimpsonhistoryandheritage.org/mooseskin-boat-project/
This project will be captured on film and made into the feature documentary Nahanni River of Forgiveness for CBC Documentary, which will be seen by hundreds of thousands of people.
Dehcho First Nations Grand Chief, Herb Norwegian, has been envisioning this project for over 2 decades and is one of the main proponents.
'Norwegian said the name for the trip came from people who have travelled the river who describe it as a cleansing and sacred experience.
"Anytime people have journeyed through there and they find they've come through and they have arrived at their destination, they have the sense of being forgiven, for some reason or another they feel that they've been cleansed," he said.
Norwegian said the journey signifies that Indigenous people and their way of life are still vibrant and thriving.
"We're trying to showcase our story that we can continue to live and put our wet moccasins on the ground and continue to live with the land and have great respect for the very thing that we do," he said.
"It's about imagery, it's about respect, it's about spiritualism, it's about cleansing yourself and showing the world that you know we're on the road to recovery and we're doing everything we can to get to that point."' - CBC News North
If you would like a charitable receipt for your donation you can also donate to this project via the Fort Simpson Historical Society
https://www.fortsimpsonhistoryandheritage.org/mooseskin-boat-project/
Fundraising team: Dehcho First Nation (1)
Caroline Cox
Organizer
Fort Simpson, NT
Rita Kotzia
Team member
