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Kate S.
Whitehorse, Yukon
Yukon/Stikine Regional Heritage Fair
Yukon Quest
My project is a summary of the Yukon Quest which describes the history of the race, the traits of the dogs and the hardships the mushers face. Hand drawn illustrations, maps and artifacts help bring the project to life.
What was the most interesting thing you learned about your topic?
I learned that pride and love of the dogs drive the mushers to finish the Quest through some of the harshest conditions that humans can face. I also learned that I love and admire dogs even more than I did before.
What important lessons have you learned that you want to share with other Canadians?
To be successful there must be a partnership between dog and musher. This special bond allows the musher to know what the dog is feeling and to use this knowledge to win the race. Driving the dogs hard will not work as well as being a kind and loving musher. Kindness and understanding is a better motivator than the lash of a whip.
How would you compare your life today to the lives of those studied in your project?
My life is far more dull than the life of a musher who faces the cold winds and harsh conditions of the trail. Taking the bus to school is easier than harnessing dogs to a sled at -40C. However, I want to have the same experience and some day I too will race dogs.