Shortly after moving to the Yukon in the late 1970s, John had the opportunity to assist the late Harry Morris with running his trapline in the Teslin area of southern Yukon. Over the next 20 years, John had the opportunity to learn not only the ways of how to trap and to understand the animals on the land, but how to do so in ways that were aligned with the Teslin Tlingit ways of knowing and doing. As John’s son Ben became old enough to come along, it quickly became known the value of spending time together on the land not only trapping, but observing and learning from the landscape and the animals that live there.

In the late 1990s, John had the opportunity to get his own trapline concession in the Swift River area of southern Yukon. This area is located on the Continental Divide and is know for its mountainous terrain and the high snowpack that comes with it. Our family has been trapping this area ever since and in recent years, Ben has been able to bring his son Hawksley along to now allow for three generations to spend time together on the land. Our family feels like we are stewards for our trapline, not only carefully managing the animals that are harvested but also observing and considering the changes that are always happening on the land around us.

To this date, our family feel fortunate to have the opportunity to harvest animals from the land and provide a high quality, sustainable fur product which is always harvested in a respectful and humane way.