(These photos of my wife and two GRANDkids were taken by Stefanie on June 28, 2003)
Welcome to K-Net and my personal websiteWorking Together to Connect the North |
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From: Sioux Lookout
Occupation: K-Net Coordinator
Hobbies: Family, working, canoeing
Quote: Smile and the world smiles with you
In June 2006, we went to see a house on Abram Lake that we heard was being sold by a friend of ours. From the first time we visited this place we knew we wanted to purchase it. Check out the pictures of the house that we visited at that time by clicking here. Everything worked out and we were able to purchase the place and move in on July 27, 2006. It is quite the experience for all of us (but especially for me) to be living out on the lake with land and space to work with and explore.
Pow-wow outfits - Leilani and Stefanie are becoming quite the dress makers. After the Eagle Lake pow-wow, Lani volunteered to make Chalise a new dress and Stefanie agreed to make a dress for Alliah. On Saturday, August 14, the girls danced in their new dresses at the Shoal Lake pow-wow. Click here for some pictures from this very special event.
Family 2011 Canoe Adventure - Five of Lorraine's grandkids paddled in her footsteps the first week of July when they canoed the Marchington River system (from Saugeen Nation to the Kimmewin Lake landing). My brother and his wife recalled how on their last trip 11 years before that Alliah was 1.5 years old and being taken care of by my late wife. Now it was Alliah at the ripe old age of 12 taking care of Tristan reminding everyone of h...er kokum. The route we took was the one that my wife and her women partners took on the various canoe-a-thons maybe 6 or 7 times over the past 20 years. I had never done this route but always wanted to. I was totalled in awe that they did the route in 3 days while we took 6 days [smiles]. Throughout the trip when the kids were feeling down missing their parents and wanting to be home I reminded them that this is where Kokum travelled so many times and loved being out there. I told them that I really wanted them to share the same experience that Kokum had loved so much. That ALWAYS made them stop being homesick [smiles]. Then on the last morning, I saw Alliah and Jordan sitting together on the rock. I was busy packing the bedding, bags and tent. Alliah came up to the tent and asked, Grandpa, can I have some tobacco? I asked if anything happened. She said "No Jordan was just missing Kokum and feeling sad so we want to put some tobacco down for her." Brought tears to my eyes [smiles] Click here for some pictures from this family wilderness adventure.
Family 2010 Canoe Adventure - Jesse Terry invited family members to participate in a 5 day trip (July 26-30, 2010). There were 8 adults and 4 children who took up the challenge (Jesse, Seeka, Melanie, Tom, Cal, Jessi, Serena, Brian, Jordan, Jaylyn, Chalise and Tristan). We began paddling from the creek into Big Sandy Lake off Hwy 72 to the river connecting Big Sandy to Pickerel Arm to Minnitaki to Troutfish Bay to the portage at Sioux Lodge, across Abram Lake to our house. Click here for some pictures from this family wilderness adventure.
Kenny-Beaton 2007 Canoe Adventure - Lorraine, Alliah, Jordan, Brent and Brian canoed from Butterfly Lake out to Minnitaki Lake around Neepawa Island back to the portage at Sioux Lodge, across Abram Lake to our house. Click here for some pictures from this little family adventure.
In early August 2006, my nephew (Brent) and his mother (Denise) arranged to travel to Sioux Lookout to join Tom, Alliah and myself on a canoeing adventure down the English River back to our new home on Abram Lake. Click here for some pictures from this rapid-filled trip.
The first two weeks of June 2003 were spent paddling from Wapekeka First Nation to Fort Severn First Nation on the Hudson Bay Coast. Pictures of this trip are posted online in an album that contains pictures from each day of the adventure starting with the early morning fire and boiling water for coffee. Check out a map of Northwestern Ontario to understand the distance traveled over these 11 days and to see the constantly changing environment along this special traditional territory of the people who have always lived and worked this land. It is truly amazing to experience such a journey and learn about the people, the animals and the land that historically supported the development of Canada (and in my opinion continues to support its development through the provision of energy and other resources)!!
September 2002 saw Tom, Calamus, Jeff and myself paddling in the traditional territory of the people of Poplar Hill and Pikangikum First Nations. This very special part of Northwestern Ontario is historically the region where people came from as far away as the central States for the healing gifts found there. The pictures of this special wilderness trip are posted on-line.
The last two weeks of September 2001 were spent with Tom and Clayton paddling in the traditional territory of Eabametoong First Nation (Fort Hope). This challenging trip took us first upstream, then over a height of land and finally downstream to a lake down the Albany River from Fort Hope. Check out the route and the pictures of this special wilderness adventure.
In August 2000, I travelled with Tom, Jesse and John into a very special part of Northwestern Ontario and the traditional territory of people from Peawanuck First Nation. The Washagami and Sutton Rivers in the Hudson Bay lowlands is an expensive place to reach (I see this year that another outfitter group is now following the same route and charging $4,000 per person [smiles]) BUT it is well worth the effort!! After the trip, a fellow from Wisconsin saw the photos of the trip. He worked with us to get the story for a web site about this trip. You can check out our canoe trip at the Sutton River trip at www.ottertooth.com. As well you can see all the pictures and the map of the region at our photo gallery.
Another special canoe trip in July 2000 was a family trip that included my brother's family, Lorraine and our family along with Tom and Jesse. Just outside of Sioux Lookout, in the traditional territory of the people of Saugeen Nation and Lac Seul First Nation, is a special river system involving the Tawatinaw River that provides many of the same wilderness experiences that exist in more isolated regions. The Photo Gallery and trip log story for this trip are available on-line.
Some other canoe trips that I have taken with Tom include:
This is our 2010 family Xmas poster created by Stefanie with my four kids and five grandkids
My latest granddaughter, Keilana, born Feb 3, 2011
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