Caught in a Snow Storm

Theresa Boots remembers when she was thirteen years old she went on a manaqing (hooking) trip during the winter somewhere over in Takchak Slough. It was back in the days when people used to live in the village of Takchak, located at the mouth of Takchak Slough.

Theresa, Paul Shorty and another old man went to the fishing spot in the morning and at that same place she remembers an old lady already there fishing. They had all gone by dog teams, and for most of the day the weather was fairly good.

But when they were heading back home they got caught in the middle of a blinding snow storm. For safety they all tied their dog teams together so no single dog team would be left behind or wander off the path. Paul Shorty was in the front, Theresa and the old lady were second, and the old man was in the back. On the trail there was already very deep snow which made it hard on the dogs.

"The wind was very cold and I was scared," Theresa said. "I was afraid that we might have gotten lost because we couldn't see anything in that storm.

Although the trip was long and tiresome from traveling through all the deep snow, Paul Shorty finally managed to lead them home safely by about 8 o'clock in the evening.

By: Theresa Boots

Interviewed by: Chris Fitka