“You have to have faith in yourself and believe in yourself that you are capable of more,” encourages Chase Yakeleya. He is Dene from the Sahtu Region, from Tulita, Northwest Territories. Yakeleya is a professional white water rafter and canoeist, a rock climbing instructor and a hiking and sea kayak guide. He got his start white water rafting as part of a pilot project initiated by Bobbi Rose Koe who won the 2022 Arctic Inspiration Prize for the Indigenous Youth River Guide Training Program.

As part of his training, Yakeleya had the opportunity to participate in a number of certifications including Canadian rescue certifications, Paddle Canada certifications, outdoor wilderness first aid, swift water rescue training and rafting licensing. He also got to paddle the Wind River and that journey was documented in a film called Ancestral Rivers.

Yakeleya went on to complete the Canadian Outdoor Leadership Training program in British Columbia, which included 100 days of intense work in rock climbing, rafting, white water rafting and canoeing, and sea kayaking. He gained the highest level of first aid training available, too.

Looking to the future, Yakeleya hopes to travel the world and provide guiding services anywhere there’s water. Most of all, he wants to give back to his home region in the Northwest Territories and teach younger people rafting and other skills he has learned. Checking the weather, the water level and other logistics ahead of journeys, safety is always top of mind of Yakeleya.

Thinking of Indigenous students who have to leave their home communities to seek opportunities, his advice would be, “Don’t let fear get the best of you… Fear is all in your mind… you have to go through those challenges to overcome certain narratives that you might have about yourself…Take that leap of faith. Pray about it. Ask the elders to watch over and pray for you. Have fun. It’s an experience. It’s going to be a good story for when you’re older or you’re going to gain something out of it.” Reflecting on his own experience leaving home, he recalls how he was afraid but he gained so much because of all the work he put in.

Looking back, Yakeleya wishes someone had told him, “It’s okay to make mistakes. Learn from your mistakes. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Know that Creator put you here for a reason even though you might not know it now. We all have a purpose in life, just take some time to seek it. Have faith. Believe. Pray every day.”

To maintain his mental health, Yakeleya journals a lot, writes lyrics and goes for walks in the bush. He likes to visit with elders and hear their stories. Having a good support system has been important for him. “A leader shares. You can’t do everything alone,” he confides. Praying twice a day has been a crucial part of his routine as well.

As far as inspiration goes, Yakeleya was inspired by his father who started a youth leadership hike in the Mackenzie mountains when he was young. Being able to participate for seven years was transformative for him. He also aspires to be better than he was, to inspire, and to demonstrate what is possible with hard work and self-confidence. Having connection to culture and his Indigenous identity while trying to learn more about his roots and his language inspires him, too.

Up mountains and on the ocean’s waves, Chase Yakeleya shares his love of the land thanks to the technical skills he’s learned on his journey. After working hard and dedicating time to honing his techniques, he has learned how to help others see nature’s beauty safely. Just like his father who founded his own leadership hike years ago, Chase is finding his own path towards leading the way.

Thanks to Alison Tedford Seaweed for authoring this article.