There are a lot of images that come to mind when you think of both living in the North and operating a gold mine in an area where there just aren’t any of the services that most of us take for granted.
We think of grizzled, hard-working men slaving away under the hot sun while trying to keep the hoards of bugs at bay, working the shovel trying to keep the plant running. We hear the sounds of firewood being chopped and split to keep the fire going to heat water for the bathtubs. We see the sweat pouring off as yet another trip is made up the waterline to make sure the line is intact and the deadfalls cleared off so that power can be generated.
You probably think this is a man’s world we’re in. Those are the images that we think when we’re reminded of some of the challenges that we must overcome to thrive in such an environment.
But, you’re wrong. You just haven’t met Christina yet. So, let’s remedy that right now.
Christina is the driving force behind this venture. But, she’s no stranger to this land. A proud member of the Kaska nation, her family has been in this area for thousands of years. One of Canada’s numerous first nations groups, the Kaska have historically lived somewhat of a nomadic life in northern BC and the southern Yukon, living off the land and subsisting primarily on caribou meat.
But, that’s a long way from gold mining.
But, gold mining was injected into Christina’s blood when her mother, Anne, married Alex, seen here. Christina and Frank, her brother, were the result of this union, and both still remain in the area that holds so much of their history.
Unfortunately, neither Anne nor Alex are with us now – but their vision and dreams live on at Holloway Bar through Christina’s vision and hard work.
