Tanner arrived in April 2025 from a remote Cree community on the east shore of James Bay. As a 4-month old, mixed northern breed, Tanner was a rambunctious puppy who loved dragging sticks out of a nearby swamp. The knee-high, black mud paws where part of a daily ritual of floor mopping and bark gathering at our lodge in Norman Wells. Another pastime was watching ducks along the shoreline of DOT Lake in Norman Wells and so when we spotted Tanner swimming with the ducks in the middle of the lake, we sprang to action thinking he must certainly be in peril. We soon learned he is a very strong swimmer! Tanner’s other great joy is playing “tug” with any chunk of rope or stick – just be sure to brace yourself or he will flip you right off your feet!