Rangers begin first Mackenzie River canoe patrol in years

Tyrone Yukon says he learned from an Elder in Délı̨nę that if you want to get to know the land, you’ve got to walk the land.

“The canoe is similar to that,” he said. “You’re right up against the land, you’re seeing everything, you’re not just whizzing by on a motor.”

Yukon is one of nine Canadian Rangers from the NWT, Yukon and Nunavut who will spend part of this summer patrolling the Mackenzie River – also known as the Deh Cho, Kuukpak or Nagwichoonjik.

A total of 12 rangers and other members of the Canadian Armed Forces plan to paddle the river from Fort Providence all the way to Tuktoyaktuk, where it flows into the Arctic Ocean.

Another member of the patrol, Niko Helm from Carcross, Yukon, said he joined the Canadian Rangers when he was 18 years old.

“I would always hear stories from the Rangers. I knew a lot of them from my local town, a lot of the patrol,” said Helm, who is now 32. “And my mom is also a ranger, so I’d hear all about her trips and always wanted to join.”

Helm said this will be his first time paddling the Mackenzie River.

“I’ve mostly done small lakes back home, small rivers, short distances. So this is huge,” he said adding he’s looking forward to seeing the scenery and camping out with other rangers.

The 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group launched its canoes from Fort Providence on Thursday. Members are expected to reach Tuktoyaktuk around August 10.

Junior Canadian Rangers left from Fort Providence on Friday and plan to paddle a day behind the patrol to Wrigley.

Captain Gordon Hart said the patrol group has not paddled the Mackenzie River as a unit since before the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The Rangers, they act as guides and advisors for the Army when they come up to the North. And in order for us to do that, we need to have a lot of experience and so we just need to get out on the land and practise our skills,” he said.

“It’s a way to get back out on the river, get to know the river, link back up with all the communities on the river.”

One thing patrol members will check is water levels along the Mackenzie River.

The river has experienced historically low water levels in recent years. According to the NWT government’s latest water monitoring bulletin, those levels are still well below average.

Hart said his only potential concern with the patrol is wildfires and related smoke. He said he’s most looking forward to seeing the Sans Sault Rapids south of Fort Good Hope.

“I imagine it’s going to be pretty cool with the big cliffs and the noise of the rapids bouncing off the cliffs,” he said.