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whatsupyukon.com
June 15, 2022 column with
Dennis Allen
THE DELTA RAMBLER
Dennis Allen is an award-winning filmmaker, forlorn songwriter and hopeless storyteller. He’s the only guy he knows who’s never seen the Stones.
DOG GONE LONG TIME How walking six days through the bush helps you make sense of life
I
was living in Yellowknife, in the stocked up on the lightest, mostspring of 1998, when I got a call nutritious food we could find—dry from fellow filmmaker Terry noodles, instant porridge and raiWolfe who was asking for help on a sins. There was no freeze-dried film shoot the following week. The tofu, that’s for sure. So we made people in the Sahtu Region were do. That was just the start of our planning to recreate a traditional walk, between the two commun- problems. On the day of, the ities of Colville Lake and Fort walking party was gathered at the Good Hope, and wanted it docu- band office, each with a pack dog. mented on film. Before air service A pack dog is a large husky that in 1964, people would walk, with carries a canvas bag stuffed with camping essentials like pack dogs, from Colfood, sleeping gear and ville Lake to Fort Good survival equipment. Hope, to buy supplies— Again, no one got the an eighty-mile trek memo that we might through the bush. The need one, too, with an few remaining elders extra hundred pounds who remembered the of camera equipment route wanted to show and sound gear. the younger generation In the North, if you the way, in more ways can’t laugh at yourself, than one. they’ll do it for you. Before we left Yellowknife, they asPHOTO: DENNIS ALLEN Cause they broke out sured us that all we Elder Marie Kochon laughing, suggesting that we go around and needed to bring was breaking off a piece look for a dog to steal. our camera gear, a of caribou dry-meat Someone had pity on mosquito net and a us and we went looking sleeping bag. They for Dennis to eat for a pack dog. There confirmed, several times, that they had all the food was a mangy husky mutt tied to and there was no need to bring a post just down the road. The any. But when we got there, owner was out of town and we figsomeone forgot to send the memo ured he wouldn’t miss it if we borbecause no one had any extra food rowed it. So he instructed me to for us. One thing about the North, undo his chain from the post and people expect you to hold your go fit him for a dog pack. I don’t think that dog had been own and think on your feet. So we went over to the Co-op store and let loose since last winter, cause
he dragged me halfway back to the band office. It’s a good thing I had experience with sled dogs from growing up with my brother Gerry’s dog team. You gotta show them who’s boss, so I grabbed a handful of his neck and bent down low and growled a few choice words, which cooled him off. Northern dogs are not pets; they are beasts of burden for all you Cheechakos. We finally got all our camera gear split up between ourselves and “Chocolate,” our faithful pack dog. As much as we tried to pair down our camera and camping gear, all three of us (Terry, myself and Chocolate) had a wobbly start from the weight on our backs. Nonetheless, off we went.
PHOTO: DENNIS ALLEN
Sleeping arrangements along the trail The first leg of the trip was a six-mile hike through a cutline from the community of Colville Lake, to Belot Lake. To save time, they boated us across the vast ex-
extra pair of underwear I had and wrapped my ankles with them. It worked for a bit, till the lard dried up, then I had to repeat it later. We got across Belot Lake and decided to camp for the night. It was June fifteenth and the mosquitoes were out in full force. Everyone scrambled for the best camping spot— a clearing with either trees or willows, on PHOTO: TERRY WOLFE either end, to tie the mosEnjoying a lunch along the trail quito nets to. When we got the call to do the Once those were set, we placed job, I went and paid over a hun- our sleeping mats and sleeping dred bucks for a pair of top-of- bags underneath, then had a supthe-line hiking boots. The kid who per of dry-fish and bannock. After sold them to me assured me that supper, I unwrapped my bloody they were MADE for hiking on the ankles and tried to figure out tundra. I noticed that all the Dene what to do about them. I decided were using wraparound moccasins, to pick some fresh spruce sap and and I felt sorry for them because slather it on my ankles. I used an they didn’t have hundred-dollar extra pair of socks to wrap my hiking boots, like me. Well, by the ankles, and it felt very soothing. time we hit Belot Lake, I could Someone eventually loaned me have choked that kid because the some sneakers. The next morning, we had boots were cutting into my ankles and I was having trouble keeping a quick breakfast, broke camp up. Too embarrassed to complain and trudged on. I was amazed at about my boots, I swiped some cont’d on page 18 ... lard from the cook and cut up an panse of Belot Lake. We’d budgeted six days so that we would arrive in Fort Good Hope on June 21, National Aboriginal Day as it was called then.
National Indigenous Peoples Day
INUVIALUIT
Clayton’s CAR CARE Tips
Yukon First Nations have played an important role in the territory’s development for generations, and will continue to shape our future.
BRAKE FLUID
Regular brake fluid changes ensure that a car’s braking system operates safely and effectively. GWICH’IN
Modern braking systems use brake fluid to transfer the application of the brake pedal down to the front and rear brakes, to bring the vehicle to a stop.
On National Indigenous Peoples Day, we take time to recognize, celebrate, and learn about First Nations, Métis, and Inuit cultures.
The fluid is usually silicone based, which does not compress, giving a solid pedal feel and an increased temperature rating. The downside to using this style of fluid is that it absorbs moisture from the air. Constant braking causes massive amounts of heat to be generated by the braking components, which is then transferred into the fluid. If there is moisture in the fluid, this will decrease the temperature rating of the fluid, and can result in a soft brake pedal and increased stopping distance.
HAN NORTHERN TUTCHONE
Most manufacturers recommend brake fluid changes every 2 years, regardless of kilometres travelled, but it may need to be changed more frequently if the vehicle is operated under abnormal conditions.
KASKA SOUTHERN TUTCHONE
Tire Shop: MON-SAT 7:30-5:30 Mechanical Shop: MON-FRI 8-5
867-667-6102 107 INDUSTRIAL ROAD
UPPER TANANA
TLINGIT
TAGISH
TLINGIT
