Aklavik Trapper Awareness 2009 - Environment and Natural ...

Wednesday, December 2 - Introduction toTrapping:Danny C. Gordon took the ten students out to histrapline on Leland Channel about 80 miles returntrip from Aklavik. The students were introduced tothe various species that Danny traps, safe trappingpractices, and the type of traps and sets he uses foreach species. Upon the completion of the first daythey trapped two lynx, a mink and a cross fox.They were out for a total of six hours.WEEK TWO:Monday, December 7 - Small EngineMaintenance and Introductory to First Aid:Youth Coordinator Samuel Mcleod taught thestudents snowmobile maintenance and troubleshooting, and completed minor repairs onsnowmobiles and toboggans for trips planned in thenear future.Gladys Edwards taught the students introductory tofirst aid in the afternoon. The first aid coursefocused mainly on signs of hypothermia, frostbites,burns and minor injuries.Wednesday and Thursday, December 9 and 10 –John Martin Camp:We took eight students to John Martin camp for theovernight portion of the program. We departedAklavik at 2:00 PM. The weather was mildlyovercast so we took our time getting to the camp.We arrived at the camp at 5:00 PM. The students litthe woodstove and went down to the lake to get ice.Five moose were seen in the creek below the camp.The next day the students went down to the creekand checked out the moose. The weather was notfavorable for hunting so we just took pictures of themoose from a distance. We were going to huntrabbits but the creek still had running water and forsafety reasons we decided not to pursue thisactivity.WEEK THREE:Monday, December 14 – Ice Fishing and FurPreparation:The weather was still unfavorable for snowmobiletravel so the students were taken ice fishing on theice road instead. Six students caught fourteen fish.In the afternoon we worked with fur in the shop.Samuel McLeod taught the students how to fleshand stretch a wolverine. He also showed them someof the other animals he caught earlier this trappingseason. Nellie Arey also came in and skinned amink for the students.Students with the animals they caught onDanny C. Gordon trapline.Thursday, December 3 - Introduction to IceFishing:Instructor Danny C. Gordon took the students out toMartin Creek, east of Aklavik, to try out the fishhooks some of them made a few days earlier. Thestudents chiseled their own fishing holes and caughtmainly inconnu (known locally as coney). Thestudents caught a total of forty-two (42) fish.Friday, December 4 – Harvesting Firewood:Instructors Chris Main and Pastor Larry Nolantaught six students (four students had to go toInuvik for regional soccer tryouts) how to harvestfirewood. Pastor Larry Nolan volunteered to teachthe students which trees are considered dry woodand good for firewood. They also taught achainsaw safety course. The firewood the studentsharvested was brought to John Martin’s camp forour overnight stay there.Learning to put an accident victim into the recovery position.Tuesday, December 8 - Firearm Safety andVisiting a Trapline:RRO Mcleod and Samuel McLeod took the studentssouth of town to Husky Channel. We attempted togo up Semple Creek into the mountains to look forsheep and/or a moose but the upper part waswashed out and had too many boulders so we had toturn around. We stopped in a part of the creek witha high bank and completed a firearms safety courseand the ENR Sight in Your Rifle Program. RROMcLeod taught the students on the safe operation ofa firearm and each student was provided theopportunity to fire a 30-06 caliber rifle. Later in theafternoon we checked Samuel McLeod’s traplineand caught a cross fox.When the participants returned from a shortsnowmobile trip the weather became unfavorable sowe decided to have a quick lunch and we started forhome. Due to the whiteout conditions we could notfollow the same trail back, so we followed the ridgeabove John Martin camp to a gravel pit in the foothills and climb down the mountain on the old gravelpit road. We then followed Willow Creek down tothe MacKenzie Delta.Students in front of John Martin’s cabin.Friday, December 11 - No TAKT Program:Unfavorable weather.Samuel McLeod and students with his furs.Tuesday, December 15 - Beaver Trapping:RRO McLeod took five students out to set beavertraps in the lakes near Aklavik. Two beaver lodgeswere found but both appeared to be abandoned.This may be because of all the otter in the area. Wedid set one otter trap and broke out some trails. Wealso got stuck in some overflow and had to dig ourmachines out.Wednesday, December 16 - No TAKT Program:MKS Christmas Concert. Samuel McLeod went upto Red Mountain and made a snowmobile trail forthe following day.Thursday, December 17 - Sheep Viewing on RedMountain:RRO McLeod and Samuel McLeod took thestudents up Red Mountain. We had a lot of funclimbing the steep 1500’ high mountain. (continue)