Fire and Ice: North Meets South: Everything happens for a reason

Wood bison research team: Ranger Al Hansen, Dr. Helen Schwantje, myself, Wood bison cow and Charlie Dickie. Photo credit: Conrad Thiessen.

Charlie Dickie and Tyler Mattheis with a Wood bison cow

Charles Oliver Dickie. Everything happens for a reason. When I came home from my first semester at Oklahoma State I finally had the great opportunity to meet one of the last members of the Dickie family I had yet the pleausre to meet ... the very famous Charles Oliver Dickie. I had heard stories about this man but had never had the good fortune of crossing paths with him. I had just arrived home and went over for a fire with my good friend Lana and finally met Charlie Dickie. It was May 2010. Soon after, a porcupine exchanged hands (Stephanie Wilkie helped in the delivery of it). Then came an education in cutting meat, scraping and preparing moose hide for smoke tanning and meeting Cheyenne - a most beautiful and wonderful woman who is Charlie's younger sister.

Uncle Charlie with sweet Malea. My first lesson in cutting up moose meat - the traditional way and we had a really memorable time (Fall 2010). Not wanting to be out-competed in toughness, there was an eating competition that was held, however, I had to admit defeat to Charlie.

I was delighted to meet Charlie's sister Cheyenne.

As we worked our way through a couple moose hides with the sandhill cranes flying overhead and many stories exchanged as we scraped and tied and re-tied the hide, a wonderful friendship was formed.

Charlie soon accepted the position as research assistant on our pyric herbivory work. A position he was willing to do free of charge and for the long haul. From the support and kindness that he provided not only in the field but also at home, Charlie was not just my research assistant and my friend and my colleague, but he taught me how to be Dene and he also became my partner.

Working with the Wood bison and GPS collar retrieval/deployment.

Integrity check on the vegetation exclosures on the Liard.

Monitoring bison on the Alaska highway - recording herd size, location, etc, as defined by Conrad Thiessen, Regional Biolgoist, Fish and Wildlife Branch.

Charles is definitely the smartest person I have ever met in my life. We worked our way through range management papers and literature together. With thanks to Don Gayton, we gained exposure to Dr. Henry Lewis's work in Northern Alberta with the Dene and their traditional use of fire. Between Lana Lowe, Lands Director at Fort Nelson First Nation and her team, Charlie and myself, we submitted a proposal to Environment Canada's Aboriginal Fund for Species At Risk. We all thank Chief Dickie and the FNFN Council for their support in our work. Mussi. With our proposal out the door, the Dene Fire Project was born and we all sent good wishes with it for a positive review with successful funding hoping to come our way in Spring 2011.

Charlie provided all the editing and critical reviews of the proposal as well as pushing me with probing questions and great ecological discussions along with sharing knowledge of being Dene and lessons from life on the land. These teachings that Charlie shared with me will always be remembered.

A few weeks after Charlie and Lucas passed away, in September 2011, we received notification that our project was successfully funded by Environment Canada. The dream that Charlie and I had of continuing Dr. Henry Lewis's work would still become a reality because of everyone who believes in the work. Charlie's older sister Leloni Anne and his Aunt Eva Needlay, along with outstanding guidance and support from Katherine Wolfenden of the FNFN Lands Department, took on Charlie's role in the Dene Fire Project - "The Dene interaction with fire: a traditional perspective amongst recovering Wood Bison populations." See http://lands.fnnation.ca/ for more info or later blog posts. In February of this year (2012), we were invited to Ottawa to present our research. The dream lives on in Charlie's honour.

Eva, myself,Leloni Anne and puss-puss Charlie's dog. Following are excerpts from a poem for Charlie that I wrote by request of my good friends and family - the Dickies ... "I stand here before you today After a week that has taken my breath away No one could expect this turn On life’s path where we are here now to mourn. Yet, I urge all of you to celebrate and see The greatness and strength of our good man Charlie.

To many of you gathered here today Charles Oliver Dickie was complicated in many ways. Sometimes his actions were somewhat frantic Sometimes his words were harsh, full of antics. His list of things to accomplish for each day Were beyond what most would tackle anyway.

From chopping wood and big fire and stretching moose hide To being with his children and family – everyone outside (even if it was -30C) Outside to enjoy and learn some of the great wisdom he had to share He taught all of us many things – above all – just to care. A selfless man with a heart ready to give So much to do for him, so much to experience and live.

So much he learned and cherished from his many elders and teachers Yes he read the bible and listened to the preachers But I think for him, for this unique man He found solice and peace when his feet were on the land Out at the cabin and deep in the swamp grounds Is where he went when he wanted not to be found.

... And then there is a handful of us whom he chose To allow us to see through the thorns to the rose. For some crazy reason, for the best part of my life, He let me in too through all of his strife. Yet above all of us, this handful of hearts, He cherished Etsoo the most, his teacher from the start. ... And now before you I’d like to say A few personal words to Charlie on this special day: Today I sat in your space At your favourite place I felt the wind on my face Your dried moose meat was all I could taste.

I came to your home Where you spent so much time alone Out here on the land Devising your own plans ... I walked in your steps just for the afternoon Reliving the stories you told me when you were howling at the moon Seeing what you saw for your whole life on the river Down in the swamp where you became a giver A giver of yourself – your body and your soul To those who you let in, only a handful allowed on your patrol I realize it now and it will forever be That I was so honoured and blessed that in that handful was me. ... No one above you, greater than you for you gave me all you had But even more than to me, you were a brother, a grandson, a nephew and a dad To a family who loves you and always will We carry forward your memory and still We let you continue on your path To achieve all of your tasks. ...

Yet I feel my words are never enough When to me you gave so much stuff You taught me to be Dene, we were a team of skinning hide You became part of my research and yesterday with you – a piece of me died. No matter how we parted ways, no matter what words were exchanged I am thankful to have spent this past time with you because forever I am greater changed For having been loved by the most amazing, intriguing, intelligent, passionate man Who was nurturing, caring and had so many plans. It was and always will be my honour ...

May the heavens rejoice, may the Creator and the universe receive you in pleasure We send our love to you always, may your chainsaw always run smooth and your mukluks walk in strength and peace - setzeeyah forever yours setzoowah. All my relations. Mussi cho."