Braiding Paths Together on the Naha Dehé By Olivia Dragon
quick note/update from BRK
First of all, Hai’ Choo for stopping by, I really appreciate all the love. It’s been awhile, mostly because of everything that’s been happening, and a lot has happened within the last few years. From paddling rivers from my wish list, training guides, accepting awards, traveling across country, and meeting people from all walks of life who has been inspiring or inspired. However, with all the good things, there’s sad things too, where I had to take well needed breaks to help mend my heart, spirit, mind and body, and I still continue to do this when needed. I am thankful I get to work beside the land and water, they help me alot.
Summer of 2024 will be the most memorial summer of all summers. Even though i’m still trying to navigate running a unique venture of a business or adventures, I find myself eternity grateful for everything, esp. the people I get to work/travel/guide with, the on-going learning experiences, and what Dinjii Zhuh Adventures can look and feel like for everyone esp. the land and water.
In the near future, we will put out available travel dates, and river trips for Summer 2025-2026,
Youth Trips: Open to youth (ages16+ )
Community Trips: Custom community/organization bookings
Indigenous Guides: custom services. ex, guiding, tours, media trips, public speaking, guide training.
Read more information on our website,
This summer was year three since our 1st Cohort of the Indigenous Youth River Guide Training, and since than, I could say I am proud of them all, for all continuing to try their best, breaking their own trail, asking for what they need and learning as they go or want to go.
We continue to work with a couple of the guides, who has been canoeing and raft guiding across the North and Canada, and probably-the world soon!!! It's pretty incredible to see and witness them grow into beautiful and strong indigenous peoples. I can’t explain the feeling without overusing the word proud. I remember when I first got into river guiding, I always wandered why our people wernt’t river guiding, and now, I watch these individuals leading, guiding, helping, teaching, and what makes me most proud, is that their growing into our ancestral wildest dreamsss, and they’re having fun while doing it.
ANYWAYSSSS ………Olivia, aka our River Dragon, who’s always on the go, smiling, helping, swimming, painting, sharing stories, booking waves, asking good questions, and over all just pretty frickn deadly. here’s her story from one of her many adventures.
“Braiding Paths Together on the Naha Dehé By Olivia Dragon”
Sitting around the blazing fire
Love radiating like heat between us
Heart feeling warm
Face sore from smiling so much
Chest rising up and down
As belly laughs fill my being
A sense of connectedness
That feels years in the making
With these souls
Love, connection, warmth
Mahsi for braiding our paths together
Like the river
We were all sitting around a circle at Lafferty’s Creek campsite as I wrote this poem. Kira, one of our lovely guides, asked us to think about three words that would describe this trip, what it means to us, or any words associated with it. I sat there, surrounded by brilliant and powerful Indigenous people and thought about how lucky I am to be here with them. To share stories, to reflect on our peoples and their struggles, but also the beauty that is held in our similarities and our differences. It was so difficult to summarize the depth that this trip held in just three words. How could I describe the feeling of connectedness that the river brings? Or, the emotions that it draws from us or the reflections it provokes? Or the joy that it is able to bring, and the sense of peace that blankets over you like a warm hug? There are many words I could use to describe this experience, but also the feelings and emotions that are hard to put into words. After much thought and consideration, the three words that come to mind for me when I reflect back on this journey are: connection, reflection, and healing.
Connection. In such a short amount of time I became closely bonded with these individuals as we floated down the Naha Dehé, through vast mountain ranges and canyon walls stretching up to the sky, laughter echoing through the canyons, conversations bouncing off the walls of rock, and ample smiles being shared. In such an extraordinary place it's difficult not to feel a deeper appreciation for what surrounds you, including the humans that join you on your journey. I think many of us started this trip feeling a bit nervous and hesitant. Participants traveled from far and wide across northern Canada and also from Alaska. It was difficult to leave the comforts of home andthe people that love and support you, and more behind and entering the wilderness with other youth and guides you’ve never met. I feel extremely proud of how far everyone on this trip has come, the vulnerability that people showed, and the bravery displayed from the beginning to the end of the trip. Despite initial nervousness and reservations, everyone persevered and put themselves out there with the group. We were there for each other– ready to offer kindness and a hug, to sit and listen to one’s story, to show empathy, and to celebrate our successes together. The differences that existed between us, our various Indigenous cultures and communities, was bridged and became interweaved. While we sat around the fire or floated down the river, we would always share whether it was a delicious meal, bits and pieces of our cultures, traditional stories from the land, and even beautiful artwork.
On the first day of our trip, one of the youth taught us how to jig under the giant wooden teepee in Fort Simpson. Myy heart felt so full as I was learning and immersing myself in other Indigenous people’s song, dance, and traditions. The energy and connection I felt on this day continued as we travelled on the river. Participants graciously shared their passions and talents with me, like how to carve art out of wood, and patiently gave me guidance while I struggled to try and carve a paddle. Some showed me their incredible artwork like intricately beaded earrings and beautiful beaded designs. Others shared the art of storytelling- stories from their people, and traditional knowledge and legends. Some youth shared profound poems. Another person on the trip shared her angelic voice and sang and played guitar for us and generously taught me how to play my favorite song on the guitar as well. I felt so indulged in their passions and strengths, connected to their cultures as well as my own. One participant said that they finally felt they had a group where they felt like they belonged. This was something that I think most of us felt, especially me.
Reflection. Being out on the land can mean a lot of time with your thoughts without distraction. In such a vast and intense landscape it truly brings out a vulnerability from within you. When you share this vulnerability with others, you can begin to understand them and their paths. I felt extremely grateful and honoured to have been able to hear some of the participants' stories. A lot of them opened up about their struggles back home and the lingering pain and trauma in their communities and families, and also in themselves. Some talked about their struggles with mental illness, addictions, grieving home and people no longer on this earth, and also talked about feeling lost at times and not knowing what direction to take with their lives. Hearing these wonderful youth recount all that they've endured made our heart feel heavy. I realized that however different our paths were, we each faced struggles To be able to share these with each other brought us closer together and also made us feel less alone. It made me realize that even the kindest, strongest, funniest, and happiest people also struggle with things. It also made me realize the strength that these Indigenous individuals hold. To deal with so many struggles and continue to pursue their dreams, work toward their goals, make art and do what they love, fight for the issues they believe in, share their stories and help others, and so much more is incredibly inspiring and illustrates the resilience that runs in our veins.
Healing. One thing I’ve noticed about being out on the land is that it brings about a profound sense of healing. As Indigenous people we have a strong spiritual connection to the land, and reconnecting with it, exploring it, thanking it, praying to it, and being one with the land is medicine for the soul. A lot of heavy stuff came up on this trip, and people were very vulnerable with each other. Through sharing and talking through things happening in our lives, we were able to support each other with healing. Being with other Indigenous youth felt like a warm hug and felt like home. Being out on the land, away from distractions and being fully immersed in the moment brings out a sense of peace. It makes one reflect and helps to ground you. Most of all it gives you the space to feel. Feeling is an integral part of healing. There are so many things that help contribute to one’s healing – hearing the leaves dancing in the wind or the pitter patter of the rain on your tent as you fall asleep, feeling the icy water splash up and graze your face as you paddle along, and even looking up at the mountains and canyons and feeling like an ant. Something about being in such a vast landscape and feeling so alive, and really feeling what's around you, which helps to reconcile your mind and soul. We were given the space to reflect, and support to help us with anything that was on our mind. As a group, we were given traditional medicine from elders in Fort Simpson to use as we prayed to the land. I would go sit down by the untamed water and reflect, express my gratitude, and feel things out. On the first day on the river, I remember kneeling by the water, looking up at the thundering Virginia falls and feeling an overwhelming wave of thankfulness and appreciation wash over me. I started crying because before this trip I had never thought that I could ever work as a guide. It seemed like something totally out of my reach. And, at the same time, I never expected to have such an amazing experience and to be surrounded by such a strong and empowering group of Indigenous youth. I was so inspired by these youth and I made sure to let them know. I think a huge part of our trip was giving Indigenous youth the space to feel empowered, to be reassured, to gain confidence in themselves, and most of all to heal with the other youth. Indigenous people are so resilient, and when brought together on the land they can heal, become stronger, and flourish.
This is why it is so crucial to continue to bring Indigenous people, especially Indigenous youth together and out on the land. Every one of us holds so much knowledge and power and together we can form connections like no other. When we are together, we are the strongest. We thrive when we are connected to our land. We offer support to each other, lift each other up, listen to each other, become stewards of our home and land, and most of all heal. Opportunities like the Naha Dehé Futures trip allow Indigenous youth to connect, reflect, and heal. They are a true and beautiful gift. In the future, I hope for and strive to help more Indigenous youth have these types of opportunities because they are so profound and life-changing. Through the Naha Dehé, our paths were braided together, and for that I am eternally grateful.
