the best of both worlds

Have you ever wondered, “What if this didn’t happen, what if one thing went differently?” It is a question that perpetually comes back to me, always looking for an answer.

Where to begin? Before we jump into any adventure or story, I want to share a little about my background as both an Inuvialuk and a student. For as long as I can remember, my home has been Vancouver, British Columbia. I grew up in Vancouver and experienced the busy urban backdrop, for better or worse. I have always considered Vancouver my home, but after this summer I’ll have to think twice about that statement.

I entered this world on March 22nd 1990 as the son of my mother, Topsy Cockney, and father, Terence Fellows. I am the only son in the family, with three outstanding sisters: Melinda Gillis, Christina and Terri Fellows. Terri is my twin, and no, we don’t look alike. I graduated from West Vancouver Secondary School and I am carrying on my education at the University of British Columbia. Living in Vancouver, my ties with my Inuvialuit roots have been strained at times. However, with frequent visits of friends and family, I have always been reassured of where I came from. This is my story.

In the spring, I was just finishing up another school

By Tyee Fellows

year. I was informed of an open position at Parks Canada in Inuvik for an Ecological Scientist Assistant. The position called for a person who is currently attending post-secondary school and whose studies are geared towards biology. At the time I didn’t think much of it. However, both friends and family thought otherwise. They insisted that I apply for the position. Sceptical at first, I went ahead and did so. Within weeks after applying, I found myself on the next flight to Inuvik. It turned out to be a decision I will never regret.

Before I could settle into my office, I was scheduled to assist in an ecological monitoring project led by doctors Linh Nguyen (Ecosystem Scientist with Parks Canada) and Erica Nol (Trent University) in the forest and tundra ecosystems surrounding Sheep Creek in Ivvavik National Park. Among this group was Jason Straka, a graduate student attending the University of Victoria, and Devin Turner, a recent graduate at Trent University. They will spend the next 71 days pursuing studies in the Canadian North made possible by NSERC Northern Research Internships with Parks Canada (Western Arctic). I, along with Jay Frandsen, a volunteer who soon became a Park patrol-person for Parks Canada, got a glimpse of field monitoring and research by assisting in inventorying over 16,000 insects, 10,000 plants, and 93 nesting birds.

Our journey began on a brisk spring morning with a flight by Twin Otter to the remote location of Ivvavik National Park in the northern Yukon. It’s hard not to get goose bumps when the otter is packed to the brim with people and cargo, and the landing strip at Sheep Creek is neither regulation size nor paved. Half-way through the flight, turbulence became a minor concern. I peered out the square-foot window watching grizzly bears and Porcupine caribou while at the same time having my head in a ‘Sic-Sac’. The trip as a whole was a success. Observing the changing landscape from the vast Mackenzie Delta to the coarse British Mountains was something I’ll never forget.

Both Jay and I were the first of many volunteers and Parks Canada staff to assist in the science at Sheep Creek. Although our stay seemed far too short, I made the most of every day. Each day I spent there was worth a story of its own. One event that still resonates occurred during the trip; it was the hike to ‘Halfway to Heaven’. The peaks of the British Mountains possess an atmosphere where everything collides simultaneously into a single unforgettable moment. Eyes wide with infinite views, ears filled with the sound of blistering winds, instead of the grating sounds of traffic and ringing phones is something everyone should have the opportunity to experience at least once.

My expedition did not stop there; my next trip was to Aulavik National Park, a place with undulating hills, meandering rivers, and musk oxen. I spent the next 15 days assisting in several ecological monitoring projects, which were supported by Polar Continental Shelf Program (Natural Resources Canada) and Parks

Canada, led by Dr. Linh Nguyen in the tundra and freshwater ecosystems. I helped to establish 27 soil profile sites with Dr. Wanli Wu (Ecosystem Scientist with Parks Canada in Winnipeg), John Lucas Jr. (Site Manager for Aulavik National Park), and Joe Kudlak (Park patrol-person for Aulavik National Park). As well, I helped inventory over 10,000 plants with Amanda Joynt (Habitat Biologist with Department of Fisheries and Oceans) and Craig Brigley (Ecosystem Data Technician for Parks Canada). Finally, we surveyed 42 lemming winter nests, sample water quality in the Thomsen River, and establish 12 sites along the Thomsen River for freshwater invertebrate sampling. Our means of transport was by canoe over water, by twin otter and helicopter over air, and by hiking over land.

Aulavik has a natural beauty all its own with wildlife and a landscape that is unique to the Western Arctic. Every day was something new, ready to be discovered. Early into the trip, we were approached by an intimidating but friendly arctic wolf that approached within 10 metres of us. Later that week, while we were out in the field, a herd of 28 muskoxen surrounded my colleagues during one of our lunch breaks. During the course of our trip, fishing was a personal highlight. I watched Joe Kudlak fillet multiple fish and learned to do it myself. He demonstrated to me what it took to live on the land and what tools and skills are needed. Being a part of the ecological monitoring program and working in the field, I gained invaluable experience and knowledge that no book or classroom could teach.

Looking back on my journey, I can’t help but to thank my family, friends, and Parks Canada for giving me this once in a lifetime opportunity. The time spent in the field and here in Inuvik has been a remarkable experience. Anyone that I failed to mention, please know that you are not forgotten.∞