Joel W.

Owen Sound, Ontario

Grey Roots Regional Heritage Fair

Dog Sledding in Canada

My project is about the history of dog sledding and how it is today. I shared my own experiences and some fun facts about dog sledding.

 

 

 

What was the most interesting thing you learned about your topic?

The most interesting thing I learned about my topic was that dogs like my dog shilough who is a Siberian husky made it possible for people to live in the Arctic 4000 years ago. Without the sled dogs it would be almost impossible to get around, deliver supplies, mail, medicine etc... The dogs were used until the invention of the snowmobile.

What important lessons have you learned that you want to share with other Canadians?

I learned that dog sledding was important for survival. It is hard to understand with how the world is today to imagine living without modern things such as motorized vehicles. I also learned that dog sledding as a sport keeps the history of dog sledding alive.

How would you compare your life today to the lives of those studied in your project?

My life today is a lot easier than the lives of people living in the Arctic 4000 years ago. They had to use dog sledding to get around but now we use snowmobiles. There is so much more modern technology that makes life and communication so much easier.