
People & Culture
Kahkiihtwaam ee-pee-kiiweehtataahk: Bringing it back home again
The story of how a critically endangered Indigenous language can be saved
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People & Culture
Every dispatch from the 2016 Route Blanche snowshoe expedition starts with a Haiku summarizing the day’s progress and events.
Over the course of the first week of their 418-kilometre journey along Quebec’s Lower North Shore, Dave and Adrien Greene and their dog Osa have battled heavy snowfall, strong winds and average nighttime temperatures of -20C, yet they have remained in high spirits.
“The Lower North Shore/where people are the kindest/warm homes and warm hearts,” they wrote on Feb. 22. It’s a glowing review of a little-known corner of Canada the Greenes are excited to share with the world upon their return.
What is it like snowshoeing up to 16 kilometres a day across an unspoiled landscape using traditional winter camping methods?
The Greenes must obtain all of their drinking and washing water – upwards of 10 litres per day – by melting and boiling snow on their portable woodstove. They also must eat 2,000 calories a day to stay warm and maintain their energy levels.
They are rewarded for their hard work with incredible scenes like this view of Mutton Bay:
After a rest day today, the Route Blanche expedition resumes tomorrow. Follow Dave and Adrien’s adventure on their blog.
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People & Culture
The story of how a critically endangered Indigenous language can be saved
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