“The first time I seen a caribou was probably when I was like twelve years old, when I used to stay in Fort Smith. That was back in 2000, I think, yeah. That was the first time I seen a caribou on the ice. There was like three, four of them. Yeah and it was the first time I ever seen that and I didn’t know what it was, but yeah.

Who were you with?

I was in a foster home. Yeah, so I wasn’t with my family because they were all staying here and I was in a foster home in Fort Smith. I remember going for a walk and I seen them, like three, four on the ice and stuff and I was like ‘oh, what the hell’. Like, I grew up in the city, not in a small community, like I barely go on the land but my whole family does. 

What city did you grow up in?

I grew up in Vancouver, Regina, Calgary and Toronto. 

When did you come back here?

I came in the North in 2020. 

Ok, do you like being back?

Yeah, it’s kind of different, you know. It’s small, not much to do but yeah, actually, it keeps me out of trouble. 

What did you bring?

I brought a broken drum. My dad was trying to fix it but yeah.

Do you know the story behind it?

No my dad didn’t really tell me the story behind this one, no. But I saw we had a broken drum that we had around the house. My dad actually fixes drums. Yeah, he’s starting one at the culture center in a couple more days. He’s going to teach people how to make drums. 

Do you drum?

I try. I’m trying to get into it but it’s kind of hard for me but yeah, you know, I wasn’t really raised with my family, so. I try, I know how to do handgames and stuff but not drumming.”