This photo essay by Peter Mather was first published in the 2014 Early Summer issue of Canoeroots.
Located in the northeast corner of the Yukon, at the end of the Rocky Mountain chain, is one of North America’s last intact ecosystems. Remote, rugged and utterly untamed, the Peel Watershed is a dream destination for canoeists looking for a once in a lifetime experience. Its rivers, including the Peel, Ogilvie, Blackstone, Hart, Wind, Snake and Bonnet Plume, form a wilderness unparalleled, rich in wildlife, cultural history and natural splendor.
It’s also a wilderness under attack. Earlier this year, 70 percent of the watershed was opened to mining, oil and gas exploration despite years of opposition from environmental groups and local First Nations communities. To bring attention to the plight of the Peel and help others connect with an area that few will have an opportunity to experience first hand, I gathered an eclectic group of award-winning Northern artists to join me on a three-week canoe trip down the wild Wind River.
Upon returning home, we’d merge our crafts, creating a multimedia show to inspire and inform the public on the issues surrounding the watershed. We called our project Yukon Wildlands…
Continue reading this article in the digital edition of Canoeroots and Family Camping, Early Summer 2014, on our free iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch App or Android App or read it on your desktop here.
