Chipewayan Culture embraces much of what could be termed "Northern Culture." To know what is uniquely Chipewayan, an Anthropologist has to be able to separate out what is English, what is French, and what is Northern. For example River Crossings: On both sides of the Clearwater River there were "trapper canoes."  These were made of birch bark and there was one on both sides of the river where the trail met the river. It is Northern culture that whoever uses one of these canoes to cross the river, will cross back, towing the empty canoe,- on the third crossing, it will be alright to proceed with the overland journey, because the traveler has left the river crossing with a canoe secured on both river banks.

Our first contact with the "Chip" was when we first arrived at the beach in LaLoche, where the boats meet the Fish Truck from Buffalo Narrows. Here there were plenty of curious children who befriended us immediately. The adults of the community made no appearance at this time, and we bought those supplies we preferred not to bring with us by car, and set out across the lake in our motor equipped freighter canoe.