Northern partner and traditional harvester Lawrence Saunders reflects on trapping season with the youth in Makeso Sakahikan (Fox Lake/Gillam).

By Lawrence Saunders Jr.

In November, we were busy checking traps every two days and there are always challenges along the way.

We always have to worry about ice thickness, swamps being frozen, and if we’re prepared for a whole day out there if machines break down on us. But also, it’s a whole learning experience for the youth – to see the hard work that goes into it.

Ice in Makeso Sakahikan. Lawrence Saunders

From getting traps ready, to breaking trail and setting 300 traps – we’re always testing the ice in the first few weeks into trapping to be sure it’s safe enough for travel. It’s important to follow that gut feeling when it’s time to turn around and call it good enough for that days’ worth of work.

Right now we’ve caught two lynx, two arctic foxes, one wolverine, 115 marten, and one wolf. 

I’m going to teach the kids it’s not always about money, but to see what the furs can provide for us.

Some martens caught. Lawrence Saunders

I’ll be getting gauntlets and hats made for every kid that comes out to trap with me this winter, and also getting a dozen marten mounts made for gifts. 

Starting January, we will be setting traps for beavers and doing the whole process with them – from chiseling the ice, setting, and checking traps, to boarding and shipping off furs to the tannery in March.

We’re also always on the look out for native medicines on the trails so we can come back to those places when it’s time to harvest the medicine. 

We’re always monitoring big game animals such as moose, caribou, and wolves – making sure the numbers are staying healthy for future generations. Little do we know, this is all a lifestyle that our ancestors did for thousands of years. 

I hope that the kids get the drive I have for trapping and harvesting, and that they can carry on this lifestyle and share the knowledge that I have passed onto them. They’re the future to carry on our cultural ways. 

Lawrence and his daughter out on the land. Lawrence Saunders