Age: 34

Hometown: Cumberland House, Saskatchewan, Canada

Profession: Adventure Guide

Michela is Cree-Metis adventure guide from Big Eddy Lodge, 55 km upriver of the nearest town, Cumberland House, SK. She lived her whole life with her family off the grid, deep in the wilderness of the Saskatchewan River Delta, a wild ecosystem and the largest inland delta in North America. Michela was homeschooled as a child along with her brother and sister, and later studied horticulture at Vancouver Island University and Biology at the University of Saskatchewan. This post-secondary education allowed her to blend traditional herbal medicines with contemporary methods. She now studies the traditional medicine of Cree people as she pursues the path of a Cree herbalist.

Michela’s adventurous spirit propelled her to start Aski Holistic Adventures, where she guides canoeing, fat biking and snowshoeing excursions into the Sask River Delta, interwoven with her Cree life, herbals, skills and stories.

Michela has gained extensive experience hunting and trapping game while working with her father and mother on their traditional trapline. Her father is World Champion canoe paddler Solomon Carriere, who impressed on her the history, skills, and ethics of their cree-metis ancestors. Her mother is the world-class land-based educator Renee Carriere who guided her along her journey into teaching and sharing her knowledge.

Her husband Leo is log cabin builder and handyman, bushman, all round amazing supporter and she hopes one day to have a big family they will raise together in the woods just like she was raised.

Michela sees this whole experience as her first long independent trapping season. Following the footsteps of her ancestors, she wants to push herself past her limits to bring home a new sense of self confidence, and also the most lucrative season yet—because she wants to win! She also hopes to inspire other young indigenous peoples to get out into the wilderness and live Mino-pimatisoewin-the Good Life!

Hiy hiy, thank you

Here are the ten items Michela selected to bring on her survival journey to the unforgiving Arctic Circle:

1. Sleeping Bag

2. Ferro Rod

3. Axe

4. Multitool

5. Paracord

6. Bow and Arrows

7. 2-Quart Pot

8. Snare Wire

9. Fish Net

10. Saw