Family, Indigenous dignitaries honour Norwegian hiker

A Norwegian hiker who walked hundreds of kilometres across the Canadian north was living his dream before he died crossing a river near Hudson Bay, sparking a search that “wove connections across” First Nations and touched the hearts of his grieving family.

“Words cannot describe how grateful we are for all you have done,” Henriette Skjottelvik said Monday, speaking to a room of more than 100 Indigenous dignitaries and friends gathered in memory of her older brother, Steffen Skjottelvik.

“In our sorrow, we lean on the fact of how happy Steffen was fulfilling his dream and goal here in Canada… He searched, like the rest of us, for the deeper meaning of life.”

Henriette, her parents and younger brother travelled from their home in Norway and spent the weekend retracing the steps of the 29-year-old adventurer, who set out in late July from Fort Severn, Ont., on a 300-kilometre trek northwest to York Factory.

It was part of a larger plan to hike across northern Canada from James Bay to Alaska, and document his journey.

Steffen was found dead Aug. 24 on the shores of the Hayes River. He had been missing for 10 days, last making contact with the outside world about 20 kilometres east of York Factory. An autopsy later confirmed he drowned.

“On the way, he met the people of Canada and fell in love (with the) ways of living here, together with the First Nations,” Henriette said, speaking on behalf of her family during a memorial service at the Chapel Lawn Funeral Home.

“Even though Steffen knew about the risks, nothing could stop him. To have that passion… should be an example to follow for all of us.”

Steffen’s coffin, draped in a Norwegian flag and adorned with red and white flowers, stood at the front of the room during the two-hour service. The memorial featured traditional prayers, songs and ceremonies fundamental to First Nations people in Canada.

Many mourners travelled from First Nations in Manitoba and Ontario to honour and share stories of Steffen, who arrived in Canada in the spring of 2023, family spokesperson Christian Dyresen told the Free Press.

Steffen first landed in Peawanuck, a fly-in community in Ontario, where local woman Jeanie Hunter took him in and taught him about life in northern Canada, Dyresen said.

Hunter’s daughter, Georgina Wabano, said Steffen quickly became part of the family.

“She took him in with open arms, with love,” Wabano said during the service.

“The beautiful thing about Steffen, he loved the land and the way of our people, our culture.”

After arriving in Canada on Aug. 29, Steffen’s family went to Peawanuck to meet with his “Cree family.” There, they also met Steffen’s girlfriend, Lilyann Mack, whom he fell in love with during his time there, Dyresen said.

The family then ventured to Fort Severn, where they met with Angus Miles, who was Steffen’s main contact in the community and spearheaded the subsequent search efforts, Dyresen said.

The group also travelled to the Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge — a remote northern Manitoba lodge between Fort Severn and York Factory where Steffen was last seen alive.

Finally, the family visited York Factory and the nearby shores of the Hayes River, where Steffen’s remains were found. There, they laid down flowers in tribute to their lost loved one, Dyresen said.

“It was a magical moment and a really heartbreaking moment as well, but it was important closure for the family,” Dyresen said.

A videographer from Norway’s national broadcaster, NKR, has been following the family throughout their time in Canada. They hope to use the footage to fulfill Steffen’s dream of documenting his journey, Dyresen said.

Steffen carried hours of recordings with him during his final trek, and the footage is believed to be undamaged. He was filming while outside York Factory, and may have captured his final moments before attempting to cross the Hayes, Dyresen said.

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Pastor Marty McLean, who lead the memorial, reminded mourners to take inspiration from Steffen’s life, urging them to live with courage, respect creation, build kinship, cherish love and live fully.

“Steffen walked where our ancestors walked. In every step he showed respect, humility and openness to learn,” McLean said. “His presence wove connections across nations, cultures, beliefs and even continents.”

The Skjottelvik family will remain in Canada until Wednesday, when they will bring Steffen’s remains back to his home country, Dyresen said.

They will also return with memories and keepsakes given to them by his First Nations friends, including a pair of handmade snowshoes, a ribbon dress and flags gifted to them during Monday’s service.

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca

Tyler Searle
Reporter

Tyler Searle is a multimedia producer who writes for the Free Press’s city desk. A graduate of Red River College Polytechnic’s creative communications program, he wrote for the Stonewall Teulon Tribune, Selkirk Record and Express Weekly News before joining the paper in 2022. Read more about Tyler.

Every piece of reporting Tyler produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.