Northwest Territories By Boat in 1962: Full Video

The Molson family shot a home video in 1962 that documented their trip along the Mackenzie River. Here's the video in full.
Note that the video's original narration contains some outdated terms now recognized as offensive.

[@ClaireMolson]

thanks to everyone who viewed and reviewed our film.David would have been very happy to know it got to the public . This trip was our 1st adventure as a young married couple.We loved everyday on the river and returned in 1971 courtesy of the Gov of NWT to the Nahanni with Ivor Stewart as our guide. You live in a beautiful part of Canada even winter is beautiful. I am forever proud that I was able to do this voyage. Claire Molson 90 yrs old

[@gordonc2377]

Interesting film with stunning scenery of this majestic river. I can only imagine how harsh life can be once the ice takes over the river.

[@emotiveenergy4598]

A fascinating journey in 1962 with a brewery & hockey mogul (j. David Molson & his wife Claire) and an artist (Lorne Bouchard & his wife Lucille) heading north on the Mackenzie River aboard the yacht, Liard River. A few years later, under Molson's leadership & ownership, the Montreal Canadiens won 5 Stanley Cups: in 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, and 1971. This is a tiny peek into the lives of the 'rich & famous'.

[@robertsolomielke5134]

TY-I was wondering about the name "Molson" , and things make sense now. My sound is out so cc only. Molson's is N. America's oldest brewery, so they will have big money for any trip. Nice they choose the NWT, over say...Bahamas.

[@kimkelford4327]

I was wondering as well how such a trip could be financed ,makes sense now .i also saw one man proudly displaying a bottle of molson export

[@madtrapper8301]

That was some fabulous scenery especially when Claire was wearing her shorts

[@flyinacircle6398]

I'm sure the likes of which were never seen before...they're likely still talking about them!

[@Bobsnotyouruncle]

Thank you so much for this film. My, our world has changed much…

[@ClaireMolson]

I would also like to thank Cabin Radio and Ollie Watson for making this video possible..good job Ollie..Claire Molson

[@barnycanuck6234]

Awesome country, As a young lad in the late 60's I had the good fortune to work at Beaver River ( Amoco had a gas plant and gas gathering site plus a base camp) and also Pointed Mountain ( Loffland Drilling) then later for 5 years in the Mackenzie Delta. I believe it was Cooper if memory serves than ran the barge up the Liard in the 60's. Had a chance to take a chopper over to the Nahanni ( headless) valley...pretty impressive

[@maintuning]

The next time someone calls me fat, I will say that I prefer to be known as well fed ! ;-) Great video !

[@jb1934]

Cool flashback in time. Not too many families would have had the wherewithal to book a trip like this in the 1960's, and film it to boot. If it took Molson to do it, all the better. I can live with the odd hiccup like 'discovering' the river... although you'd think the Molson family would have a slightly better grasp of that backstory since they have been living in Montreal since what, the 1770's?? a time when there was plenty of interaction between indigenous and settler and the settlers were quickly learning what the indigenous people knew.

[@The67wheelman]

It’s funny people view Edmonton as the frozen north but it’s not even halfway up to the middle of the country.

[@chrisclements1169]

What a great film.

[@jeffschkeryantz6692]

What did you make of the “ everlasting fires” comment. I wish he would have given more detail as to what they are.

[@brendawright5899]

I doubt that MacKenzie discovered the Dhe Cho

[@jimbrown7840]

26:19 Fresh water with a metallic taste! Water poisoned with mercury? Just asking. 😂

[@willhicks2259]

And everything else. Thinking the same thing. DDT and anything they didn't want anymore just got dumped in the lakes and rivers.

[@EGCblackknight]

Ground water picks up the taste of whatever geological formation it flows through. That part of the country has large metal ore deposits, and naturally tests high for heavy metals. Where I'm at the well and spring water tastes of iron and Sulphur.

[@TerenceGallagher-pp2wn]

I loved the comment about the "unknown product" the chef was holding!

[@maintuning]

Right ?!!

[@flyinacircle6398]

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[@PeterBertrand-in6ft]

Awesome..not a Dene in sight

[@billfarley9167]

How could Alexander Mackenzie "discover" the river if the local people knew it was there for thousands of years?

[@Heavilymoderated]

Kinda like the schools teaching native children various crafts. I have a pretty good hunch they already had their own crafts, and they weren’t teaching them as much as trying to squeeze their culture out of them.

[@ableelectric3106]

Not all crafts are the same, many people up there remain deeply affected by the tremendous loss of life from disease over a hundred years prior. Source, lived up there and my family is native to the north.

[@steviechampagne]

Because the locals didn't have a written language to document their "discoveries"

[@Heavilymoderated]

I think I would book my voyage in the 1860’s, before the water got that rather metallic taste… I think I’m picking up on some travel fatigue and subsequent crabbiness at the end, when he’s taking digs at homies mustache and the nun. 😂

[@habaristra6248]

14:45 brown water? an unhealthy slurry of tailings without a doubt

[@EGCblackknight]

Never seen a silty river? They did mention the constant dredging needed to keep the channels open

[@eddiegalon3714]

Mississippi is the longest river in the western hemisphere, not the Mackenzie as stated. Ya I know Canada. It's ok guys.

[@robertmccardle5113]

google says its the Amazon. and the Missouri the longest in North America. as of 2 minutes ago l had no clue thanks