Our Dene Journey: Past, Present & Future

Season: June 15 to September 25

Package Brochure (English version)

Details of your “Dene Journey”

On this journey, you will learn the history of our Dene peoples here in the Northwest Territories, including how the growth and development of the Northwest Territories has impacted our way of life. Meet the Knowledge Keepers of the land and of our culture, hear their stories about the old days as it was told to them by their parents and grandparents. Learn about our special connection and relationship with the land and learn some of our language, our Dene Laws and more.

You will visit Indigenous communities, meet with community leaders, respected Elders and residents and hear their stories. You will learn about the devastating impact of the residential school system and other policies of colonialism and assimilation on our people and our culture.

The first Indigenous community you will overnight is home to the first residential school in this area, opened in 1860, over a 160 years ago. You will learn how we are healing from these traumas and how we are moving forward. As in the past, as it is today and even more critical for the future, learn about our special connection to the land and how this special connection is the key to the healthy sustainability of our water, animals and lands.

You will travel on the mighty Mackenzie River or as we call it in our Dene language, the “dehcho” and visit a traditional culture camp and learn about our special relationship with the land. Enjoy traditional foods and traditional activities like the powerful traditional Dene Hand Games! Back to town after a traditional dinner, we may get lucky and experience our Dene Drum Dance !

We will continue on to the oldest community on the Mackenzie River, Fort Simpson, or as we call it in our Dene language, “Liidlii Kue”. Meet with community leadership, Elders and residents and learn more about our culture and heritage while visiting this beautiful river community. Then you will fly into the world famous Nahanni National Park, one of Canada’s and the world’s natural wonders! Once back in Fort Simpson, enjoy a wonderful evening with a local Dene family for a delicous home cooked meal of traditional foods and storytelling.

After an amazing Indigenous experience in the Dehcho region of the Northwest Territories, we drive  back to Yellowknife and end off your amazing trip with a delicious dinner at your hotel and reminisce about the last 5 days! Then enjoy a relaxing evening in your hotel and then home the next day, wow!

Your “Dene Journey” Highlights

• Genuine Indigenous culture
• Experience life in our Dene communities
• Taste our traditional Indigenous foods
• See our traditional arts & culture
• Meet with Indigenous Leaders and Elders
• Scenic day flight into amazing National Nahanni Park
• 700km road trip on Mackenzie Highway
• See North American wildlife and game birds
• North Star Adventures Photo Memory Package
• North Star Adventures Souvenir Package (optional)
• Price: Starts at $2995.00+GST/person
• Click here to book this once in a lifetime experience

Price:

1. 7 Day All-Inclusive: $5995.00*+GST/person

2. 5 Day YK clients: $2995.00**+GST/person

*minimum 6; maximum 16 person booking

**minimum 6; maximum 8 person booking

Your “Dene Journey” Itinerary

For Yellowknife/NWT clients:

We have added our shorter package version for Yellowknife/NWT residents. This package will start  and end in Yellowknife. A 4 day package for $2995.00+GST/person.

Day 1: Drive from Yellowknife to Fort Providence

Drive from Yellowknife to Fort Providence. Explore Lady Evelyn Falls and Kakisa. Then to Fort Providence and learn the history of this scenic riverside community. Overnight.

Day 2: Visit Lady Evelyn Falls and Kakisa!

Drive from Fort Providence to Jean Marie River, then to Fort Simpson. Lunch at Jean Marie River. Arrive Fort Simpson late afternoon and get to know Fort Simpson. Overnight.

Day 3: Drive to Jean Marie River and Fort Simpson!

Fly into the world famous Nahanni National Park! Arrive back to Fort Simpson late afternoon, enjoy a traditional cookout dinner meal with local Dene family and learn more about our Indigenous culture.

Day 4: Visit the world famous Nahanni National Park!

Enjoy a boat trip on the mighty Mackenzie River as we boat to a traditional camping spot. Hear our Dene guides tell stories about our way of life, our culture, our past, our present and our future.

Day 5: Relaxing drive home!

Relaxing drive back to Yellowknife, wow!! What an amazing past 4 days, learning, seeing and experiencing our Dene culture! Masi cho for choosing North Star Adventures!

For Canadian/world clients:

Day 1: Welcome to Yellowknife!

Welcome to northern Canada! We will greet you at the airport and check you to your hotel. After everyone has checked in, we will all meet for the  Tour Package orientation session. Afterwards you have a choice to join our fun and informative Yellowknife Sightseeing City Tour, or just relax and go for a leisurely walk downtown. At 6:00pm we will bring to the scenic Old Town district of Yellowknife for a delicious dinner of local fish at world famous Bullocks’s Bistro! The rest of the evening is free.

Day 2: The Journey begins, 300kms to Fort Providence!

Drive 300kms to the small, scenic Indigenous community of Fort Providence. Along the way view scenery of the northern Canada landscape and see the world’s biggest wild buffalo! Arriving into the community we will check you into the Snowshoe Inn and then have lunch. After lunch, we will go for a scenic drive to visit the tiny Indigenous community of Kakisa and visit Lady Evelyn Falls. After dinner meet local Indigenous people and stop at the local arts and crafts  all their wonderful Indigenous arts and crafts!

Day 3: Travel on the Mackenzie River, visit the Cultural Camp

After a hearty breakfast, we go for a boat ride on the mighty Mackenzie River, enjoying the scenery of the wilderness to our culture camp. Here you will spend a good part of the day visiting and meeting with local Elders and Knowledge Keepers of the land and hear stories about our culture, hear their personal stories growing up on the river. The of course the local women will cook a delicious traditional dinner, for a fine dining experience on the shores of one of the longest rivers in the world! Then it’s back to Fort Providence for a good nights rest at your hotel. You are reconnecting with the land.

Day 4: Journey to Fort Simpson, the oldest community on the Mackenzie

Today we continue our journey deeper into the heart of the Deh Cho region. We will drive to the historic community of Fort Simpson, the oldest community on the Mackenzie River, established over 200 years ago as a fur trading centre. You will hear stories about the fur trade and how it has impacted our way of life. You will meet some residents who are still trapping today and selling their fur. Then enjoy a traditional cookout dinner with a local Dene family and her their stories about trying to maintain our way of life in a modern world. We call traditional food, “medicine food”, it’s good for the body and the spirit.

Day 5: Day tour into the world famous Nahanni National Park!

Fly into Nahanni National Park! Take off from the Mackenzie River in a float plane, soon see the majestic Mackenzie Mountains off in the distance. First stop is the breathtaking Virginia Falls, twice as high as the Niagara Falls! After the Falls, it’s onto beautiful Glacier Lake to see the impressive Cirque de Unclimbables. Finally, you visit one of the most scenic places in the entire Mackenzie Mountain Range, Little Doctor Lake wait until you see this place! See our land, experience our land.

Day 6: Enjoy a relaxing scenic drive back to Yellowknife!

After breakfast it’s time to say goodbye to this wonderful people of Fort Simpson and it’s back on the road back to Yellowknife. Enjoy the ride, get some rest along the way in our comfortable newer vans. We will arrive into Fort Providence just in time for a delicious buffalo burger lunch. Arriving into Yellowknife, check into your hotel and we will all meet for a wonderful evening of fine dining of delicious local foods. Reminisce with the other guests about your Dene Journey!

Day 7: Wonderful memories of your northern adventure!

After a hearty breakfast it’s time for us to take you to the airport. It was wonderful having you on our tour. Thank you for choosing North Star!

2022 Package Dates (Canada & world clients)

Season: June 16 – September 16

ODJ22-01: Jun 16 – Jun 21 (Indigenous Day in Yellowknife)
ODJ22-02: Jun 24 – Jun 29
ODJ22-03: Jun 30 – Jul 05 (Canada Day in Fort Providence)
ODJ22-04: Jul 05 – Jul 10
ODJ22-05: Jul 12 – Jul 17
ODJ22-06: Jul 18 – Jul 23
ODJ22-07: Jul 24 – Jul 29
ODJ22-08: Jul 30 – Aug 04
ODJ22-09: Aug 05 – Aug 10
ODJ22-10: Aug 11 – Aug 16
ODJ22-11: Aug 16 – Aug 21
ODJ22-12: Aug 23 – Aug 28
ODJ22-13: Aug 29 – Sep 03
ODJ22-14: Sep 04 – Sep 09
ODJ22-15: Sep 10 – Sep 16

Terms & Conditions

1. Prices based on 2 person to 1 room booking. Prices may vary based on persons per room.
2. Prices subject to change due to fluctuations in fuel, hotel, airline and/or tour partner prices.
3. Dates subject to change due to inclement weather or airline and/or tour partners changes.
4. Please review our Payment & Cancellation Policy before booking.
5. Does not include Guide tips. Feel free to tip your Guide directly.
6. Minimum: 6 guests per booking; Maximum: 16 guests per booking

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