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Allan was born in
South Porcupine, near Timmins, in northern Ontario. He grew up there and in
Manitowadge. His family originated from descendants of the Cree of northern
Quebec. They have always been in the bush, as guides, woodcutters, hunters
fisherman, ventures. Bow remembers taking his grandfather's canoe as a small boy
and traveling down the Porcupine River alone, learning to be independent even at
that age, something Bow says his family has always done, just loved and ventured
the bush.
Bow served in the Canadian military for a time, his unit was a light infantry
unit, and he also spent time in the search and rescue unit -- his passion
was tracking people. Bow has spent most of his life in and out of the bush, in
one form or another, has learned a lot of skills from the native communities,
bush-wise people, and his native teacher and friend who is a very highly
respected spiritual teacher and bush-wise individual.
Bow works for Domtar (a pulp and paper mill) near his home. He is married and
has two children, a boy and girl (twins).
Bow practices native spirituality, and has come to understand the many
insights learnt from listening and just being in the bush. His preference is to
venture deep into the skills and knowledge learned, in the extremes of the cold
weather that is often encountered in his area. His personal goal is to learn to
understand what has to work in those environments whether in a traveling
survival scenario or a stationary survival scenario.
Today Bow still teaches survival courses for different agencies, as he has
for the last 18 years. Bow prefers to help people see where nature has provided
the answers to these learnt skills, how to flow with mother earths changes and,
learn to "listen" to what she has to offer for your "options".
He also works as a guide for individuals who seek moose and bear, as well as
nature awareness.
Bow's love of the bush has gained him many insights into the tricks and
knowledge that Mother Earth has provided. For example, from the plant kingdom,
with his –40 below fire boards. And from the mineral kingdom with the skills
learnt for the ‘two stone fire starting". Some of Bow's works include many
unique things such as two-spindle fire boards, Bows two-stick fire boards,
Bows-bore fire starter, fire from ice, Bows fungus fire board, Bow's take-down
handdrills, and more. He ceaselessly experiments with variations of existing
techniques.
Bow attributes these insights and new unique skills to actually being out in
the bush and learning, listening, trying, and making better "options". As he
says "not one way is always the best". One environment he particularly enjoys
experimenting in is the extreme cold, when most don't care to venture out. He
like to push his limits. Bow feels the only way to learn is to be out there,
make mistakes and learn from them. He says there is no other way.
Bow always maintains he is no different than anyone else and not better than
the next. He feels he is just a simple guy, who loves the bush, and when the
temperature drops well below zero, something in his blood tells him it's time to
go back into the bush! "Nothing special" he says, "just a guy who loves the
bush!"
--Compiled with material provided by Allan Beauchamp |
