Eight local apprentices take on the Bison

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Working on the Bison Gateway provided a once in a lifetime opportunity for eight artists from Fort McKay First Nation and Fort Chipewyan.

Originally only two apprentices were assigned to help Brian Clark on the immense project, but due to the Marianna Lakes fire and rainy weather conditions the project was in danger of falling behind schedule.

Clark put out a call for help to Fort McKay and the response was great. Many wanted a hand in being a part of this magnificent project.

Gerald Gladue had been working on the Gateway from day one. He has seen the Gateway transform from an artist's concept in May to where it stands today.

"I'm getting a little excited," says Gladue. "Now that it's finished it is something to be proud of, knowing I put a lot of work into it."

Gladue was an operator at Neegan Development Corporations Ltd. before working on the Gateway. He'll probably continue to sculpt now that the Gateway is finished, he said.

"Who knows?" says Gladue. "This may be start of a new career."

John Piquette and Robert Ahysou were the first 'new' apprentices to climb aboard the bison project.

They came on shortly after the Mariana Lakes fire was doused in June. Piquette was already working on the Discovery Trial, another part of the Wood Bison Trail. But he jumped at the opportunity to work on the Gateway.

"In the future when I drive by it I can say I helped put it together," said Piquette. "It will not only give me pride, but I think for Fort McKay as well because we were the ones sculpting it."

When Ahysou started on the project they had just begun to cut into the stones. Now he can look back and see what he has helped create.

"This will put the north in the spotlight," says Ahysou. "I think it will show people that things are getting better up here. I will be able to show my grandchildren what I did."

Feelings of pride are strong among all of the workers. They are confident that the Gateway will open up new opportunities for the Aboriginal people in the north.

Victor Gladue came up from Edmonton just to visit his brother Gerald, but the next day he would up working on the Gateway himself.

"I never though I'd be doing something like this," said Victor. "Besides the pride, I am really enjoying the work. Seeing what we accomplish and just the fact that they are bison is excellent."

To help in the final push towards meeting the unveiling date, Clark added some more people to his crew. Lawrence Bekkattla, Pete Bouchier, Gordon Courtorielle and Antoine Irvine (from Fort Chipewyan) all joined the project team in August.

"I have done some basic small sculptures in the past but nothing that would come close to this," said Irvine. "This is a once in a lifetime experience and when we are finished it will be around for a long time."

Over 4,000 people took in the fantastic Wood Bison Trial opening and unveiling of the Bison Gateway.

Dignitaries at the event included Alberta Premier Ralph Klein, Mayor of the Municipality of Wood Buffalo Guy Boutllier, Fort McKay First Nation Chief Melvin Grandjambe, Tom Jackson and Laura Vinson.