The family of a Norwegian adventurer who drowned in Ontario’s far north say they’ve started a foundation to promote cross-cultural education to preserve his memory and accomplishments.
Steffen Skjøttelvik came to Canada with a dream to hike from Fort Severn to Alaska.
He settled in Peawanuk for a couple of years to learn about living on the land, formed relationships and became known and loved among the Cree people in the region.
In July, the 29 year-old set out again on foot along Hudson Bay, but failed to arrive as expected in York Factory, Manitoba.
A gruelling helicopter search, conducted and fuelled mainly by donations from Cree communities along James and Hudson Bay, recovered his body from the Hayes River several days later.
Images of Steffen Skjottelvik were displayed at a memorial service in Winnipeg that was held to remember the life of the Norwegian trekker who died in northern Manitoba. (Travis Golby/CBC)
Christian Dyresen is a spokesperson for the Skjøttelvik family in Norway, and now CEO of the Steffen of Norway foundation.
He said the family wants to promote the love of nature with young people, both in Norway and northern Ontario through cross-cultural camps, mentorships, seminars and research.
“It’s all about making them a part of the society and giving them a second chance and that’s based on Steffen’s story himself,” said Dyresen. “He was struggling to pay attention in school. He was just struggling with all the theory.”
Instead, Dyresen said Steffen sought out nature to cope with feelings of being different.
He said that the foundation will help young people learn bush skills, and the board of the foundation will include a Norwegian psychologist who uses wildlife adventures as therapy.
There will also be representation on the board from the First Nations who knew Steffen when he lived in northern Ontario.
Angus Miles is the last person who had contact with Steffen and led the search for him.
He lives in Fort Severn and organizes land-based programming for youth, a talent he’ll share with the Steffen of Norway foundation.
Angus Miles is an activity co-ordinator with Fort Severn First Nation, and a board member of the Steffen of Norway foundation. (supplied by Angus Miles)
Miles said he felt connected to Steffen because he the trail he was walking on when he died was a historic mail route that many elders talked about.
“A lot of the elders were talking about how they used to walk the coast to York Factory and like this guy, he would go over there just to go play his fiddle from here,” he said.
However, Miles said the trek had not been done by anyone in a long time because it was so treacherous, so it was inspiring to see Steffen embark on the adventure.
“His love for the land, his love for nature was something else,” said Miles.
“Everywhere he went, where he camped, when we checked where he had been, he never left any garbage or anything like that. That alone said a lot.”
He said he didn’t hesitate to join the foundation’s board because he wants to keep Steffen’s memory alive and pass it down to youth both in Norway and in Ontario.
As for the first camps, Dyresen said he expects them to be held next summer in the countryside outside Norway’s capital of Oslo, where Steffen grew up.