Launch of On the Land: a year of photos, interviews, and videos of people who call Canada’s North their home

Terri Simba and her daughter Presley share a moment while the youth, Maverick Simba-Canadien and Dawson Landry Jr, hang out. Photo: Pat Kane.


Ka’a’geeTu, Between the Willows by Patrick Kane.

Over the next year, the On the Land project will showcase the people of the Northwest Territories (NWT) and the land and water that are so vital to their traditions and livelihoods. Content will include a series of stories, interviews, photos, and videos.

The series is a partnership between Tides Canada and Pat Kane, a Yellowknife photographer, writer, and journalist. Pat will be travelling across the NWT to the communities of Behchoko, Jean Marie River, Fort Good Hope, Trout Lake, and Kakisa.

Tides Canada is participating in the project to foster northern well-being. We believe that Northerners know best how to create durable solutions to Northern challenges, be they environmental, social, or economic. By supporting Northern leaders and initiatives, we can build a stronger and more resilient Canadian North.

From the On the Land website:

From Alberta to the Arctic Ocean, the Yukon to Nunavut, many call this vast region home. Many stories and memories and traditions are tied to this place, allowing people to pass along teachings to future generations. Through this project, we explore the reasons why the land is culturally and biologically significant and deserving of special environmental protection in the face of large-scale energy and resource development. We also seek to promote awareness of the stewardship of wildlife, land, water, and other natural resources in this region, recognizing that they are special places for harvesting food, and cultural and spiritual traditions.

“I hope this project not only highlights the incredible indigenous people who live in the Northwest Territories, but points out the cultural importance of these areas so that viewers will see the need for responsible conservation management in the region,” says Pat.

Ka’a’gee Tu: Between the Willows, the first video and photos for the collection are now ready to watch here.

Terri Simba and her daughter Presley share a moment while the youth, Maverick Simba-Canadien and Dawson Landry Jr, hang out. Photo: Pat Kane.
Terri Simba and her daughter Presley share a moment while the youth, Maverick Simba-Canadien and Dawson Landry Jr, hang out. Photo: Pat Kane.
Lloyd Chicot navigates his boat through a log jam on one of the many creeks near Tathlina Lake. Photo: Pat Kane.
Lloyd Chicot navigates his boat through a log jam on one of the many creeks near Tathlina Lake. Photo: Pat Kane.
Maverick Simba-Canadien, Tarek Chicot and Dawson Landry roast marshmallows over the campfire. Photo: Pat Kane.
Maverick Simba-Canadien, Tarek Chicot, and Dawson Landry roast marshmallows over the campfire. Photo: Pat Kane.