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Things to See & Do Around Fort Liard
There are an amazing number of things to see and do around Fort Liard, but don't expect a big city style nightlife; there are no movie theatres, dance clubs or bars. What Fort Liard has is culture and nature, and lots of it. If you are visiting town, make some new friends or check out the recreation calendar and participate in an activity. Go out on the land hiking or canoeing and see the places that the Slavey Dene have called home for centuries.
Many recreation activities depend on the season. In the winter, many people enjoy ice fishing or traveling from place to place on their snow machines. In the summer, people go boating upriver and spend time at their camps. Swimming at the Muskeg River is a popular pastime. Regardless of the season, you are in a remote area and every activity has some risk involved. Ask local people for safety tips and precautions that you can take to make your trip more enjoyable.
Choose the links on the left for some ideas of things you can do around Fort Liard!
Crafts
 The traditional crafts of the Dene were more than just attractive objects; they all had a use. Birchbark baskets were used as dishes, for collecting berries, for storing items, and for moving things around. Moosehide clothing was used as protection from the elements. Snowshoes were used for hunting and moving about in the winter. Bark canoes were essential for navigating the river highways.
Today, as in the old days, a great deal of quality and care would go into the making of each item. Gifts of moose hide clothing with porcupine quillwork or beading were ornate and beautiful. The clothing that you wore was a visible display of the esteem and respect that somebody had for you. By looking closely at moosehide clothing, often smoked the traditional way, you can still see the care and attention to detail that persists to this day. Jackets, beaded slippers, and decorative gauntlets are all poplular and functional items of clothing.
The people of Fort Liard are particularly renowned for their birchbark baskets. These baskets are usually decorated with dyed porcupine quills and assembled using birchbark, sinew, spruce root and willow. Because the items used to make the baskets are taken from nature, each basket has its own character; no two baskets are the same. When the Grey Nuns lived in the area, they influenced how arts and crafts were decorated, shifting from traditional geometric designs to flowers, birds, and other amimals. To learn more about birck bark baskets, click here.
Jewelry and miniature birch bark canoes are also popular crafts. The creativity of the artisans is revealed in every item you will see from bracelets and keychains to the ever-popular moose dropping necklace.
  
   
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Culture
During your visit to Fort Liard, you may have the opportunity to participate in a feast or drum dance or get to watch traditional hand games. Don't just sit back and watch - get involved! Ask questions and learn about the local culture from the people who know it best.
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Events
Please visit our regularly updated events page to see what special events are taking place in our community.
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Fishing & Hunting
Obtain your territorial fishing license at the Visitor Information Centre, at the Liard Valley General Store, or at the local Resources, Wildlife, & Economic Development (RWED) office. See the local business and services page for more details. Contact the RWED wildlife officer at (867) 770-4300 for more details on fishing and hunting regulations and hunting licenses.
Nearly every river or lake in the area will prove successful for fishing, although you will have the most luck in clearer waters. Although you will probably catch something no matter what, different species of fish are active at different times, so it is good to have an idea of what you are fishing for and when to do it. See the Climate page for some information on local fish species. You will need an auger to drill holes for fishing in the winter. Always check the quality of ice carefully before venturing onto a river or lake.
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Sightseeing
There are a lot of things to see around Fort Liard. Be sure to get a copy of our Visitor Information Map at Acho Dene Native Crafts, or by contacting the Hamlet Office.
The Cliff is the site of an interesting local legend. From the baseball diamond, you can see a large cliff on the opposite bank of the Petitot River. Legend says that the Acho Dene once lived on the top of the bluff. This spot would have provided a good view of the rivers, and some say that arrowheads have been found around the top. One day, another tribe attacked the unsuspecting residents. In the ensuing battle, the attackers were eventually defeated, some being driven over the edge of the cliff. The fighting was so bad, and the victims so numerous, that blood seeped deep into the ground, causing the rocks and soil to turn the red colour you see today. Some of the elders say that when rocks fall off the cliff face, it is a sign of bad fortune.
The Roman Catholic Mission is a must-see during any visit to Fort Liard. Father Zephirin Gascon, an oblate missionary of Mary Immaculate, was the first oblate priest to visit Fort Liard. He was born in Quebec in 1826, became a priest in 1854, and just a few years later founded the Fort Liard Mission in 1859. The present Mission building was built from 1913 to 1921. Father Mathurin Vacher, o.m.i., took nearly eight years to complete the building because he was practically alone to do the work. he even had to hand-cut his own lumber. At that time, most of the people lived out on the land, in the traditional way. The foundations of the mission were rebuilt in 1957 and the building was renovated in 1965. Even today, the Mission sreves as a place of worship. Inquire at Acho Dene Native Crafts for tours of the building.
The Money Tree is one of Fort Liard's quirky sights. Fort Liard has been blessed with good fortune. Maybe it's the work of the money tree. In the winter, if you are driving into town, look on the right side of the main road into town. It is hard to miss the tree shaped like a dollar sign ($).
There are still some old Hudsons Bay Company buildings still standing. Behind the Northern are two buildings and a house. The building in the centre, directly behind the Northern, was once the community's only store. These are not the original post buildings (which were built in the early 1800s and are no longer around), but are still an interesting place to take a walk and imagine how Fort Liard was in the old days. In time and with a little work, the old store may soon be converted into a heritage museum, displaying artifacts and documents from Fort Liard's past.
It is only in the last forty years that most people moved from living out on the land to houses in Fort Liard. Many people remember when the main street was nothing more than a walking trail. In those days, the only access to town was by air or up and down the rivers. As you walk along the river bank or stroll through town, keep your eyes open for log houses. The first buildings in the community were made from locally harvested logs. Today, most of the log houses that are still standing are beside modern and efficient frame houses, but they are a visible reminder of the remarkable changes that have happened over the past fifty years in Fort Liard.
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Wildlife Observation
Because of the "tropical" climate of Fort Liard, wildlife abounds. See the Climate page for information on just some of the wildlife that you might see in the area. In the summer, this area is especially excellent for bird watching, with hundreds of species calling the Liard Valley their temporary home. The fall is an excellent time to see moose. Always use caution when viewing large game.
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Click here to view the Fort Liard Photo Album.Last Updated August 21, 2007
DISCLAIMER: The information contained within this website is accurate to the best of our knowledge. The webmaster and Hamlet of Fort Liard apologise for any errors or omissions and, when informed, will do our best to update any inaccurate information, but take no responsibility for any damages or difficulties that may be incurred as a result of the interpretation of information from this website. |
