Sun City Resident Art “Karts” Huseonica, 72, is staying the course in his preparations for his Yukon River expedition Yukon 2020.

Delayed since 2020, his total focus is on completing the 2,020-mile expedition. He will leave Arizona soon for the Yukon Territory to resume the adventure where it was interrupted last year due to high flood waters.

Huseonica won’t be alone all the time. He’ll have international guest paddlers, some of whom are from indigenous groups in the Yukon Territory and Alaska. This includes First Nations, Metis Nation and Alaska Natives. Paddling with Huseonica for the first week are Bruce Jobin and Melinda Land.

Also joining the team for the first week’s paddle to Dawson City is Myryja Friesen of Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada. A passionate outdoors person, Friesen is the founder of Compassion Yukon, an advocacy organization dedicated to improving accessibility for those with special needs.

Huseonica remembers his brother, Bobby Huseonica, who was inflicted with Cerebral Palsy his entire life. His parents ensured that Bobby had accessibility and was encouraged to do everything the family did. With this in mind, Huseonica can relate to the incredible work that Friesen is doing.

For the first week of paddling, Huseonica’s friend, author and videographer, Jean Aspen, encouraged him to find valuable time alone in order to experience silent communion with the land and the mighty river that runs through it. For deep solitude to this end, Aspen explained that humility, patience and simplicity are key influencing factors.

Using her Kernwood films as a framework, Aspen always encouraged Huseonica to follow his heart in search of unexpected opportunities that he’d not have if he stayed with the known and the pragmatic.

Dangers facing the paddlers, in addition to hypothermia, are black Yukon wolves, mosquitoes and brown and black bears. To help deal with the threats, Huseonica noted he’s always looking for mature decision-making skills and risk management assessment experience in his guest paddlers.

During last year’s attempt, Huseonica had paddlers join him from the Carcross/Tagish First Nation and the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council. The expedition is frequently referred to as the “Kindness Expedition” because of how Huseonica wants inclusivity of team members and his desire to learn more about indigenous peoples of Canada and Alaska.

In support of this, Huseonica is guided by the Indigenous Yukon’s Respectful Travel guidelines published by the Yukon First Nations’ Culture and Tourism Association. The guidelines were developed by the village elders and First Nations’ Knowledge Keepers.

Respectful travel not only includes the water, air and wildlife but also the culture. A key consideration for Huseonica is that culture is not for sale. Culture belongs to family members, clans and communities. Before visiting a river village in either Canada or Alaska, he will first seek permission from the village leadership. In preparation for this, he will learn as much as he can about the village’s culture, peoples and what challenges they are facing.

The expedition has already received compliments from the Yukon First Nations about his handling of the expedition thus far. They applauded his decision to abort his expedition last year due to the unforecasted 100-year flood event. Updated information and guidance will be obtained when the team meets with representatives of the First Nations in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada.

Huseonica is dedicating his expedition to his brother, Joe Huseonica, who recently died. In addition, the expedition’s charity of choice is Beads of Courage. Local supporters include The Nixon Group, Cheryl Conrad and Advant-Edge Landscaping.

Because of the expedition reboot and outrageous inflation, Huseonica continues to fundraise to meet the ever-increasing costs of such an expedition to be the oldest person to open canoe the entire Yukon River. Major contributors will be honored along the route and also on YouTube videos showing highlights from key points of the expedition. They’ll also be recognized in the expedition’s documentary film.

Everyone can follow Huseonica in real time through his GPS tracking link that he’ll publish at the start of the trek on the expedition’s Website. His GoFundMe link and sponsorship details can also be found there.

Visit yukon2020.com/.