moose god

The townsite was a moose swamp, not much more than one hundred years ago, and when not frozen over is still pretty swampy.  Moose are still a big presence here, both in terms of symbolism and in traditional practices that go back thousands of years.  I am not a hunter, and could not kill a moose any more than I could kill any other animal, yet I do not judge those who hunt for food and survival.  The Tron'dek Hwech'in First Nation helps manage the fish and game in their traditional territory (Tron'dek is the word which became reshaped into the word Klondike). 

The Tron'dek Hwech'in are based in Dawson City and are now the largest employer in town.

The spirit of the moose is pervasive, yet a proper photo is not that easy to come by.  Finally tonight I was able to get my camera out, find the "detect aura" setting, and get a shot of the moose god in its natural environment.  Note its electric blue breath in the frosty night air.