Norwegian hiker’s respect for North — and its people — won’t be forgotten

Opinion

Norwegian hiker Steffen Skjottelvik’s dream was to see and travel across the most beautiful place he knew possible: Canada’s North.

The 29-year old, inspired by a Norwegian traveller who made a similar multi-year trek years earlier, saved money for years to achieve his dream.

Skjottelvik arrived in Canada and began his journey in late April 2023, arriving in Peawanuck in northern Ontario.

His journey was documented on social media, on a page entitled “Steffen’s Great Canadian Journey.”

Skjottelvik was a humble man and knew he was a guest on another nation’s territory. He refused to take up much space, asking permission to tent nearby. He learned Cree words. He fostered relationships with families, who began to visit him and deliver him food.

Local trappers and hunters started to teach Skjottelvik how to survive in the bush. They showed him how to keep warm in freezing temperatures, combine oats and lard when game wasn’t available and how to hunt and harvest meat and fish. he was even taught how to train dogs and assemble a sled team.

One day, Skjottelvik even earned the love of a local Peawanuck citizen.

By the winter of 2023, Skjottelvik felt confident enough to start travel around Hudson Bay, sometimes with his dog team, sometimes by foot.

He travelled more than 1,000 kilometres. He fished, saw eagles and met wolves.

In one story, he passed through an area with polar bears.

I heard these tales not from him but from community members, particularly from Peawanuck, who cared very deeply for their new friend.

“This was one truly amazing and beautiful man who looked upon our people as brothers and sisters,” posted local community member Chris Mohawk on Skjottelvik’s social media page. “Nyaweh to you, Norway Man, for restoring my faith in humanity.”

Skjottelvik failed to arrive in York Factory as expected on Aug. 15.

Evidence suggests he tried to cross the fast-moving Hayes River — just a few kilometres from his destination — and drowned.

A tragedy, for sure. But within it, a remarkable story.

When Skjottelvik went missing, community members in Peawanuck coordinated with leadership at Fort Severn, Ont., to search for him.

In three days, volunteers raised more than $70,000 through a grassroots, door-to-door campaign where dozens of local people — many of whom struggle financially — donated between $100 and $200 to pay for a helicopter team.

The search was coordinated by local leaders Angus Miles, David Matthews, George Miles, and Jordan Crook, among many others. It was not led by provincial government authorities, RCMP or any other emergency services.

This was a locally led search by Indigenous peoples who loved Skjottelvik and found their adopted friend, brother, and nephew, leading authorities to his remains on Aug. 24.

This week, Skjottelvik’s Norwegian family travelled to Peawanuck to bring their son home.

What they found, where Skjottelvik’s camp once stood, was a cross, covered with the Norwegian flag, installed by community members.

Skjottelvik’s family also spent time meeting their new family — and his girlfriend.

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I would be remiss if I did not take a moment to mourn the loss of one of Manitoba’s brightest Indigenous heroes and a true champion for reconciliation.

Chief Jim Bear of Baaskaandibewi-ziibiing, or Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, died Wednesday at age 79.

A direct descendent of Chief Peguis, Chief Bear was a residential school survivor who worked very hard to recover from that experience to gain accreditation in accounting and finances and served an incredible 11 terms in leadership at Brokenhead.

His vision in business and social services led to his co-founding of the Southeast Development Council, the founding of Indigenous hockey teams and school divisions, and the establishment of the South Beach Casino & Resort, which now distributes funds to seven First Nations.

He won many awards over his lifetime, including a Queen’s Jubilee Medal, a Champions Award from from the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, and, in April, received a lifetime achievement award at the Treaty One Gala.

Most Manitobans, however, would know Chief Bear from his more recent work serving on dozens of boards, such as the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre and Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation, as a voice for reconciliation, equity and fairness.

Chief Bear was a mentor, an uncle, and a constant voice in the ear of all leadership in this province. He was also remarkably funny and had great stories of his days playing hockey with NHL stars Reg Leach and Bryan Trottier.

I was the recipient of many a phone call and text from Jim and will miss him deeply.

His best advice to me: hate is like water off a duck’s back; shake it off.

niigaan.sinclair@freepress.mb.ca