In The Footsteps Of Our Ancestors

What many call the ‘worlds toughest hike’, the Canol Heritage Trail is a 355km rugged alpine path that weaves its way through vast canyons, rivers and thicket deep within the Mackenzie Mountains of the Sahtú region, Northwest Territories, Canada. In The Footsteps Of Our Ancestors is an award-winning documentary feature that follows the journey of 11 brave hikers during a 37-mile traverse on foot as part of the 2017 Canol Youth Leadership Hike.

Tracing the abandoned remains of the Canol Pipeline project, one of World War II's failed energy pursuits, a diverse team of youth, elders and community guides walk in the footsteps of the Shúhtagot’ı̨nę Mountain Dene, the Indigenous stewards of the land since time immemorial. Faced with some of the most beautiful and unforgiving wilderness found in Canada, the team quickly understand what the realities of life in the mountains would have been like for their Sahtú Dene and Métis ancestors and the difficulties faced by the American Army in building one of the greatest constructions projects of the 20th century.

With each foot placed in front of the other, the hikers reveal an enduring message for future generations and showcase the power of youth leadership, the spirit of teamwork, and the tremendous potential we unlock inside ourselves when we are chosen by the land.

Credits

Role: Co-Director, Cinematographer, Editor, Co-Writer

Direction: Erinn Drage & Nicholas Castel

Executive Producer: Norman Yakeleya

Narrator: Jordan Lennie

Original Soundtrack: Jeff Watkins

Presented by: Northwestel Community TV, The Canol Youth Leadership Hike, Trails In Tandem

Distributed by: McIntyre Media

Partners: MEC Outdoor Nation, Students On Ice, Canoe North Adventures, Vistek, Sahtu Helicopters, Northwright Air, UNESCO, OROGO, Northwest Territories: Industry Tourism, Investment

2019

Community Engagement and Presentations

We launched In The Footsteps Of Our Ancestors first in communities across the Sahtu and leveraged features on local radio stations, newspapers and online publications to spread the word. Our showings included interactive materials, readings, slideshows and 360˚ video at over 10 different cities across Canada. Special presentations were also co-ordinated with partners like the Government of Canada, CPAWS, and Exploring By The Seat Of Your Pants. The film live on NorthwestTel’s Community TV station and is currently for educational licensing by McIntyre Media. We are very proud of what Trails In Tandem was able to accomplish with In The Footsteps Of Our Ancestors. Never before has the story of the Canol Heritage Trail, the incredible people of the Sahtu and the dynamic history of WW2 been told this way. The powerful messages this film carries for all Canadians makes it an excellent entry point into the concepts of reconciliation, on-the-land based leadership training and the duty we have to protect our wild landscapes. This project will be a fond memory for us, and we hope it’s lessons will be shared for many years to come.