British Columbia (June, 2024)….
Had a fantastic time in remote British Columbia with Driftwood Valley Outfitters.
Check out…
1) the reason you might want to carry a rifle while in the woods (grizzly track and the grizzly that made the track),
2) the beautiful color-phase black bear, guide/outfitter Michael Schneider led me to on a spot-and-stalk!
Grizzly Track
Sow (left) and Boar (right) grizzly feeding along a logging road in remote, central British Columbia
The author dreamed of a "‘color-phase- black bear, and his dream came true!
A major part of Mike’s trip to British Columbia involved interactions with members of the Takla Nation, particularly Youth Apprentices with Driftwood Valley Outfitters. An article about this wonderful work with First Nation teenagers titled, Healing from the Land - First Nation youth apprenticeship through hunter dollars, is also set to appear in the November/December issue of Sports Afield. The following is an excerpt from Mike’s article:
Another critical aspect for the young men joining the program is their exposure to the cultural richness of their Nation. Driftwood brings in men known as knowledge-keepers, who use the tradition of oral history during story-telling events to provide a context for the young men as members of the historical Takla Nation. Learning of their ancestors’ belief systems, and ways of living in harmony with the land, provides a vehicle for the healing of mind, spirit and body. Humans have an innate desire to function within a larger tapestry. Driftwood, via the knowledge keepers and teachings from other Takla Elders, allows the organic assimilation of the apprentices into their own larger, life-giving stories.