Sun City resident Art “Karts” Huseonica is focused on his upcoming Yukon River expedition that starts May 27. He plans to keep the Yukon 2020 branding.

Having been delayed for two years due to international border closures related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Huseonica is eager to get started. Unlike previous years, the Canadian government and the Yukon Territorial government are now welcoming the expedition.

In addition, Huseonica has experienced difficulties with keeping a teammate for this dangerous expedition. However, maybe a blessing in disguise, representatives from the Yukon First Nations councils are signing up to paddle with him through their respective indigenous territories.

The river passes through territories of five of the 14 Yukon Territory’s First Nations. Huseonica believes it’s very important to respect the lands, peoples and cultures of the regions he passes through on his record-attempt expedition. Having members of the nations with him will help to educate him on the many nuances of the indigenous areas that border the Yukon River.

One paddler, Coralee Johns, is a citizen of the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council. Johns has an extensive background in the fisheries and is very familiar with the depletion of salmon in the Yukon River. Her passionate advocacy is admired throughout the territory.

A member of the Wolf Clan, Johns’ heritage includes relatives who were honorary chiefs, hunting and fishing outfitters, and guides for the building of the Alaska Highway during World War II. She’ll spend time with Huseonica on Lake Laberge and nearby salmon spawning grounds which the Yukon River flows through. This is the first time in modern recorded history First Nations citizens will join a Yukon River expedition.

Alaska natives from along the Yukon River are also talking to Huseonica about paddling with him. Viable sections of the river in Alaska include the first 300 miles and at the end when the river flows into the Bering Sea. He’ll have to wait in the sea until his GPS pings to confirm that he did complete the expedition and get back up river to Emmonak, a small fishing village. This will prove dangerous and challenging.

Huseonica had planned to document the expedition using a variety of cameras, including a drone. He’ll continue to do this, but under the leadership of Hollywood documentary film producer Soraya Simi. A film crew will join him for the first three days of the expedition. One day will be while he completes outfitting in Whitehorse, Yukon and two days near his insertion location on Bennett Lake. One of the Yukon River’s source lakes, Bennett Lake will give Huseonica an opportunity to get used to his new expedition canoe and the heavy gear load he’ll need for the expedition. It’ll take approximately three days to reach the river proper.

Before reaching the river, he’s been invited to stay at the Carcross/Tagish First Nations facilities as an honored guest. He’ll be hosted by Donna Johns, a Yukon canoeing expert.

The Yukon 2020 expedition hasn’t been immune to the inflation all are experiencing. Huseonica is continuing with his fundraising to help buffer the exorbitant surcharges that he’s being faced with. He has frequently expressed his gratitude to local residents and business owners who have helped support the expedition. Currently, his custom-made expedition canoe’s naming rights can be purchased via yukon2020.com/support.

Visit yukon 2020.com. When the expedition starts, a publicly-accessible GPS tracking link will be posted there.

Editor’s Note: Karen Carlsen Huseonica is Art Huseonica’s wife and manager.