News Release

Three Rivers Journey Celebration Packs the Yukon Arts Centre

April 1, 2004 – Whitehorse – The Three Rivers Journey multi-media show in celebration of CPAWS-Yukon’s river trips on the Wind, Snake and Bonnet Plume drew a sell-out audience of 425 at the Yukon Arts Centre on March 31st. Thirty-seven paddlers from across Canada and parts of the US participated in the journeys during the summer of 2003, designed to raise awareness about the Yukon’s beautiful and vulnerable wild mountain rivers and boreal landscapes.

Stunning images by some of Canada’s best photographers, including Courtney Milne, Marten Berkman and Fritz Mueller were accompanied by the music of Joe Bishop, Kim Barlow and Paul McKay. Both Joe and Paul composed original music and lyrics inspired by the Three Rivers Journey last summer. Paul McKay contributed a disc of swing and jazz tunes that filled the theatre with the rhythmic tones of the Bonnet Plume. Joe Bishop’s folk`songs blended beautifully with the sometimes haunting melodies of Kim Barlow, as they wound their way down the Wind and Snake Rivers.

Lively video clips by Jimmy Johnny, Marten Berkman and Juri Peepre brought the energy and excitement of the Three Rivers Journey and Elder’s Gathering straight into the Arts Centre, while Miche Genest read a selection of engaging river journal entries and a poem by Brian Brett.

Joel Luet of Whitehorse won the grand draw prize for a free trip down the Snake River, provided by Walden’s Guiding and Outfitting. Second prize was a striking framed Snake River panorama poster by Fritz Mueller. This poster, rich with the lush greens and ethereal light of the Three Rivers landscape, is now available from CPAWS-Yukon for $25 including postage. Order from cpaws@cpawsyukon.org.

Background

Eight prominent Canadian visual artists joined photographers, writers, conservationists, musicians, scientists, and members of Yukon and Northwest Territories First Nations’ communities in a project to highlight the power of this pristine landscape and its cultural significance. Journey participants spent 18 days paddling down three of Canada’s legendary rivers – the Wind, the Snake and the Bonnet Plume in the Wernecke Mountains of northeastern Yukon Territory. These tributaries are part of the Peel watershed, known as the northern anchor of the Yellowstone to Yukon region.

The artists, writers and photographers who participated in the Three Rivers Journey and Elders' Gathering, interpreted their experiences through a variety of media which will be part of a national touring visual art exhibit, multi-media presentation and book celebrating the Peel watershed and northern Canadian wilderness.

The touring visual arts exhibition, The Three Rivers … wild waters, sacred places, will be launched at the Yukon Arts Centre Public Art Gallery in October 2004.