In a feat of daring, endurance, and stamina, Expeditions Ontario, a team of extreme winter sports enthusiasts, comprised of Buck Miller, a Huntsville resident, Eric Batty and David Jackson, will ski the west coast of James Bay, starting March 19, to raise funds for True North Aid.
The James Bay Journey is self-supported and participants will be hauling supplies on freight toboggans and traverse 500 km of rugged, isolated wilderness in twenty-one days. The journey will take them from Cape Henrietta Maria, on the bottom of Hudson’s Bay to the town of Moosonee, in southern James Bay. With a fundraising goal of $10,000, the adventurers invite donors to follow their trek on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/expeditionsontario or on Instagram.
“None of the money we raise goes to us, it all goes to the charity. 100% of the funds raised go to True North Aid and their work in Attawapiskat First Nation,” said Miller.
True North Aid’s mission is “to provide practical humanitarian support to northern and remote Indigenous communities in Canada” through a number of projects and support structures dedicated to enhancing the lives of Northern First Nations by “empowering Indigenous peoples to build a brighter future.”
“I grew up in Northern Ontario, (Moosonee) and always called it home. I live in Huntsville now, but I’ve always considered North Ontario home. I’ve got lots of great friends who are Indigenous and I’ve lived in their communities for years of my life and I know the struggles. I’ve seen the struggles that they face,” explained Miller.
Expeditions Ontario undertook similar fundraising efforts in a 2019 Winter Fat Tire Bike event which followed the James Bay winter road to Smooth Rock Falls, and in 2020 travelled north 720 km, again on winter bikes, on the longest winter road in the world, to Gillam, Manitoba.
Miller is an avid lifelong outdoorsman and cyclist who gravitates toward endurance athletics and long-distance activities. Co-sponsored by Algonquin Outfitters in Huntsville, Miller sees this as a way to give back by doing actions that he loves and is skilled at.
Miller moved back to Moosonee when he retired as a professional cyclist on the Canadian National Cycling Team. “I kind of combined my love for hard endurance events with my love for the outdoors and camping and just came up with these expeditions we can do in the far north of Ontario, that have never been done or attempted and bring money for some of the communities we travel.”
With $5000 generously donated during the Wapusk Trail documentary film night on February 27, 2024, by filmmaker Eric Batty, the team is confident they will reach their goal and hope to raise more money over the next three weeks as they complete the course.
Donations can be made HERE.
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