Acknowledgements

The McDonalds: The Lives and Legends of a Kaska Dena Family would not have been possible if not for the so many wonderful, supportive people.

A sincere, heartfelt thank you to everyone who has contributed pictures and stories; Angus McDonald, Wanda Sorell, Rocky Lynch, Monty Lynch and Monica McMillan, Brian McDonald and Joanne Middleton, Linda McDonald, Carola Lynch, Peter Stone, Bob and Maxine Kjos, Linda Ashdown and the Fort Nelson Friendship Centre, Marl Brown and Shallen Gerwing with the Fort Nelson Historical Society, Earl Brown, Chris Winklemeyer, Dan and Vicki Clements, Evelyn McDonald, Richard and Mavis Mearow, Marg Fulton, Cec Fulton, Lois Ward, Heather Leake and Daisy Callison and her daughter Julia.

A special thank you to my husband Dave and artist Barbara Swail for the map on page 10. I am so grateful to be able to show the reader our family's traditional territory.

Special thanks to Chris Gale for his great wildlife and landscape photos, featured on pages 8, 10, 14, 26, 36, 44, 52, 64, 72, 88, 96, 102, 110, 120, 128, 140 and 198.

A big thank you to Ryan Dickie for the fantastic wolf photo on page 81.

Also to Wayne Sawchuk. Not only did he contribute photos of the family, but also the landscape photos featured on pages 6, 18, 50 and 155.

A special thank you to Don Pettit, Barbara Swail and Tryna Gower for all their wonderful help. Your expertise and helpful guidance truly made this book the best it could be!

To my wonderful family, especially my parents Wanda and Jay Dee Sorell, for all their support and help along the way, and for sharing my passion for keeping the traditional ways alive. I am so thankful for all the summers and holidays spent with our elders.

Finally, to my wonderful husband Dave and my son David, thank you so much for everything you have done, all your help, support and love as I worked to get this all together.

A very sincere, heartfelt thank you to the First Nations Bands and local businesses of Fort Nelson, B.C. for supporting and believing in me. Words cannot express how truly honoured I feel to have such support behind me, and how happy I am that others see the importance of this book. Special thanks to Deputy Chief Peter Stone from the Kaska Dena Council and Daylu Dena Council, Chief Roland Wilson of West Moberly First Nation, Chief Lynette Tsakoza of Prophet River First Nation and Chief Norman Davis of Doig River First Nation. To the wonderful business owners who supported this project: Brent Beaven and Larry Fell of Blue Canyon Concrete, Doug and Sharon Gordon of Peace Country Oilfield Contractors Ltd. and North Country Maintenance Ltd., Thomas and Donna McDonald, and Ken and Elaine Villeneuve of Long Bow Pipe and Tap Ltd, Rick and Carol Seidel of Radar Road Transport, Brian McDonald and Joanne Middleton of Muncho Lake RV Park, and Clarence Berreault of Liard River Contracting Ltd.

Dedicated in loving memory to Ella Elsie McDonald, her family and a way of life that is soon to be lost.