First Nations, Norwegian family unite to honour adventurer’s life and legacy

WINNIPEG — Gry Skjottelvik arrived in Canada last month with a mission.

The mother traded in the comfort of her home in a small village in Norway for the expansive, sprawling and sometimes treacherous terrain of northern Canada to trace the final steps of her son, Steffen Skjottelvik.

It’s the second time in a year that Skjottelvik has made the trek following the death of her son whose body was recovered from the shores of a river in northern Manitoba while he was on a cross-continental journey of the Canadian wilderness with his two dogs, Togo and Bay.

This time around, the trip was about moving forward with the First Nation communities that embraced her son.

“It was lovely to meet the people there, to have the opportunity to talk to everyone, hear the stories, how the people there saw (Steffen) as a person,” Skjottelvik said in a recent interview with The Canadian Press.

“That was good for our healing.”

The 29-year-old outdoor enthusiast died last summer after police believe he may have tried to cross the swift-moving Hayes River while walking from Fort Severn, Ont., to York Factory, Man.

An autopsy determined he drowned.

Steffen’s goal was to journey from James Bay all the way to Alaska following in the footsteps of Norwegian adventurer Lars Monsen, who completed a multi-year hike through northern Canada in the early 2000s.

Along the way, he settled in Peawanuck, Ont., an isolated Cree community about 200 kilometres southeast of Fort Severn. It was here where he learned about the history of the land from community members and elders, and eventually fell in love with a local woman.

It was these same community members who spearheaded search efforts, along with locals from several First Nation communities in Manitoba, when Steffen failed to arrive in York Factory.

After Steffen’s body was found, his family travelled to Canada for a memorial service in Winnipeg and to bring his body back to Norway. The trip was shrouded in shock and grief.

Ahead of the one-year anniversary of Steffen’s death, the family returned for a 10-day trip that included multiple stops in Ontario and Manitoba to help understand the impact various Cree communities had on the man.

“When we got to know these people, we were overwhelmed of feelings. They are so open and they felt with us in a way that you just get respect from them (and) for them,” said Skjottelvik.

Joining the family on the trip was a crew from NRK, Norway’s public broadcaster which is producing a documentary on Steffen, a team from an international outlet that is working on a feature story and officials from the Steffen of Norway Foundation that was set up in honour of Steffen.

The group spent four days in Peawanuck, where they were reunited with one of Steffen’s dogs and cooked, cleaned and fished with locals. His parents were able to boat to a nearby island named after Steffen and visited the camp he called home.

“Steffen found a community that he was able to go in and out of (while also) spending time alone. He spent time in his camp. He spent time with his dogs. He made this impressive journey, but in the end, he was a part of a bigger community,” said Christian Dyresen, managing director of the Steffen of Norway Foundation.

“He met the First Nations with a really open mind and curiosity, and the world needs more of that.”

Dyresen said Steffen connected with the communities he visited over their shared values of sustainably using the land, honouring spirituality and respecting Mother Earth.

After days spent with First Nation communities the group gained a better understanding about the backdrop of the history of Indigenous groups in Canada.

This included emotional testimonies about the effects of colonization and the herculean task of reconciliation between Canada and First Nations, Inuit and Métis groups, said Dyresen.

From northern Ontario, the group travelled to York Factory and Gillam, Man.

It was the first time Steffen’s parents were able to see the rugged wilderness and the inhabitants who call it home.

“We saw polar bears and we heard about the wolf around the houses there, so that was special. It’s something about listening to the birds that sing there, feel the wind and how cold it must have been, and that was nice,” said Skjottelvik

The Keewatin Tribal Council, an organization that represents 11 First Nations in northern Manitoba, sponsored the family’s journey in the province.

Grand Chief Walter Wastesicoot first connected with the family at Steffen’s memorial and has stayed in touch since then.

Wastesicoot remembers sympathizing with the parents as they waited for news about their son thousands of kilometres away. He vowed to support them in whatever way he could.

The leader arranged for Steffen’s parents to take part in traditional ceremonies while they visited northern Manitoba.

One of these included a practice where a person washes and dries the feet of another person and places moccasins on them as part of a coming home ceremony, said Wastesicoot.

Despite being from different parts of the globe, two nations were able to come together over shared humanity, the grand chief said.

“It demonstrates that we are people first and foremost,” he said.

“We have caring and love for our children. And we have compassion for others. I think that’s what brings everybody together, pulls everybody together during such a time of loss for someone else.”

While the family’s mission to honour Steffen’s journey in Canada ended last month, his legacy continues on with the Steffen of Norway Foundation.

It was established to promote outdoor activities and knowledge sharing for young people. The foundation also aims to develop cultural exchange programs between Norway and First Nations in Canada.

“Steffen’s story was not just the end, but also the beginning of a way to use his curiosity, his knowledge and his openness towards learning and understanding more about the Cree and the First Nations,” said Dyresen.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 15, 2026.

Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press