Old Crow students learn about big city life

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Cheering on the Canucks in the third game of their playoff series against St. Louis is way cooler than hunting caribou in Yukon, according to a group of students from Old Crow. The 12 students and three adults took in the Canucks' game as part of a 10-day stay in Abbotsford, about an hour east of Vancouver.

It was a completion of an exchange trip when 10 Abbotsford Junior Secondary students visited the Yukon town of Old Crow-population 250-and learned about a different way of life. Their experience included lessons in trapping, hunting and showshoeing.

Then it was Abbotsford's turn to play host. Many of the Old Crow students had been to other Canadian destinations, but they were still surprised with the size of the population and the number of activities to keep them busy.

"It's not boring here," said Wayne Ollett. There was little time for boredom. The students made visits to the Vancouver Aquarium, Science World, OmniMax Theatre and Playland.

They also visited the Planetarium, the University of British Columbia's Museum of Anthropology and the group spent a full day in Victoria. School life was an adjustment from their three-classroom 45- student school.

"I was looking for they gym and I passed it about 10 times," Tammie Josie said.

The Abbotsford end of the trip was led by Matt Born, Native education instructor.