After moving into Fort Nelson Maggie spent some time in the Yukon at Toobally Lake. The following photographs were taken at a fishing and trapping camp and show some of the activities she was involved in.
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Maggie Gairdner is pictured here hard at work on the trap line. The trap line was checked at least every three days. She always had her dogs close by her side. Nugget and Husky would run back and forth between Larry and her, checking to see that all was safe. Nugget the dog on the left was a pup from Inuvik and Husky came from a G.W. Carlson school teacher. Nugget was a faithful companion for nine years and Husky worked with Maggie for eleven years.
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Photograph provided by Maggie Gairdner
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Photograph provided by Maggie Gairdner. |
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In this photo Maggie is holding the marten pelts that are ready for sale.
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Before the snow, dogs were used to carry packs. A dog can carry more than you think. This photograph shows Maggie making a trail ready for trapping.
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Photograph provided by Maggie Gairdner
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Fishing was very important to the First Nations people. Maggie can remember setting a night line as soon as the ice melted from the Muskwa River. Chubb was used for bait. People use to fish in all the rivers (the Sikinni, the Nelson, the Muskwa, the Prophet,the Liard). Bait was tied onto a stick and stuck into the stream or river close enough to the shore to access. Another stick was used as a fishing rod ( a hook and line was tied to the stick). Fish would be attracted to the bait and easy to catch.
Photograph provided by Maggie Gairdner. |
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At the fish camp Maggie’s son, James (Manny) is cleaning fish (jackfish / laketrout / whitefish) and preparing them to dry.
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Bernie and Manny standing by the fish drying racks.
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Photograph provided by Maggie Gairdner
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Craft provided by the Friendship Centre |
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Wall Hanging - handmade using fish scale, birch bark, sinew, a strip of moose hide, glue, oval pearl beads and thread.
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Today Maggie lives on Gairdner Crescent in Fort Nelson. Maggie still goes out with her grandchildren but now they might take a motor home. Maggie says she still prefers to sleep in a tent ...
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In this photograph a grandson is holding a beaver stretcher at Maggie’s house.
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Photograph provided by Maggie Gairdner
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