Dene a Journey: Season 1: Episode 6

This compilation episode is a time to reflect, for some of the characters of Dene A Jouney, and what they learned from their experiences.

Mason Mantla feels he has grown up since his trip winter-camping episode and is now a better father to his young daughter. “Being out here was a great experience for me, and I think for all of us too, because this is connection to the nature that most of us don't have,” Mason Mantla.

After learning how to tan a moose hide, looking back, singer Leela Gilday is proud of her work and how she persevered throughout the physical challenges involved. “It's [Dene A Journey] reaffirmed my love of the North and how important my culture is to me and having that time to just dedicate to learning a traditional skill and being in my territory; that pretty unparallelled. It's not too often those experiences come along in your life so it really impacted my life is a very positive way,” Leela Gilday.

Tania Larsson feels connected to the land after her journey with her sister, camping, making dry meat, berry picking and learning dozens of Gwich'in words from her trip in Fort McPherson. “It's really important to me to keep this pride of being Gwich'in and First Nation because I think it's important to have this connection and not disconnect myself from the North. I'm lucky to be Gwich'in and I'm so proud of it,” Tania Larsson.

From her unique journey travelling to the Midway Lake Music Festival along the Dempster highway, Nina Larsson feels proud to be Gwich'in and will no longer doubt her legitimacy as First Nations again. “I felt empowered when I was back on the land.”

The show revisits the highlights of each trip, giving the viewer a taste of the North and how the show had changed the lives of the characters in individual and mutual ways.