Travelling the River

Jonas Nitsiza: After the hunting season for beaver and muskrats, they canoe to Behchokǫ̀. I went with them as a young boy. I traveled with them along the river hauling the canoes over one portage to another.

When we walked over the portage, I couldn't carry anything so I would carry two paddles. That's how I followed my father. When we got to the huge falls, many people helped each other as they carried the boats over the fall's portage. That was how things were done. I have seen how they travel with what they had, and that's how it was.

It was such a joy to travel with the group, whether there was food or in need of supplies the people were always so happy to be together. All along the narrow long river, camp after camp, many people lived in the area. Camps of tents filled the shore as far as the end of the river bend.

Some of the people joined us on the trip, there were also many people at the next camp, Tetaah. Again we spent the night with the people there and we helped the people that needed our help.

Some men carried raw beaver or muskrat skins. The women at the camp would clean the skins and put them on drying boards to dry while traveling.

The hunters would kill beaver and muskrat during their travels down the river. The skins are fresh so the women in the camp help clean and dry the skins. Many women would help dry and clean the skins. People helped each other those days. I know what I have seen and that's why I am telling this story.