By Brian Baxter
What’s so special about the Yaak? Well, I suppose that question is open to the individual to answer on their own volition. However, I do recall after training a young forester up in the Yaak for about three weeks, when he asked me that question. My response was that if I had to explain, he wouldn’t understand anyway.
According to resources at the British Columbia Geographical Names Information System, Yahk is a Kootenay word meaning either arrow or bow, and referring to either the Yaak River or the Kootenay River. The southward curve of the Kootenay River from Canada to the U.S. and back to Canada is said to be a bow with the Yaak River possibly being the arrow. That is, if the name is from the Kootenay word a’k. Variations of the name include A’ak, Yaac, Yahk, Yahkh, and Yak.
The Yaak School is something special. This school was built with hand hewn logs and is heated with wood. The structure has served this isolated community for almost 100 years. This school strives to maintain its character by continuing to emphasize the traditional skills of reading, writing, and arithmetic along with fun subjects of science, social studies, physical education, and technology. Despite the isolated status of the school, students from the Yaak school have repeatedly tested well on mandatory state tests.
Perhaps this is due to the amount of teaching time each student gets in this small school, or the high level of parent involvement, or the dedication of everyone helping the school to succeed. It also has a lot to do with teacher Rose Wilson and full time paraprofessional aid Craig Johnson. I witnessed them working together in concert and it truly was a beautiful thing to watch. The schools mission statement is a simple one with an important message for all schools in our great country during these trying times. It states, we will ensure that every student reaches his or her academic and creative potential through a partnership of students, teachers, parents, and community. The Yaak school district guides all involved including the students themselves to hold high expectations, be partners in a well rounded education, be courteous, respectful, and honest, and to develop a positive spirit of cooperation and community involvement.
Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness put a lot of kids through their Winter Tracks Program. As one of their main instructors and a four decade resident of the area, I personally did not want to leave the Yaak school out. So, although understaffed and spread thin, we came up with a plan. With the help of Rose, Craig, and Randy Beacham, we met for a Yaak Tracks Day.
After viewing and discussing track casts, feathers, scat, owl pellets, skulls, and Native American Spirit Guides for representative animals and birds we headed for the field. The kids were great and our highlights included spotting birdlife, beaver dams, identifying trees and scat, finding tracks of field mice, pine squirrel, snowshoe hare, ravens, white tailed deer and a Long-tailed weasel. We were also treated with a visit from O’l Tom Oar, the mountain man. I thanked Tom for all he had taught me back in 1983 when a buddy and I were running trap lines in the Yaak. And today again, it was the older folks teaching the young. All in all, it was a very special day in the Yaak. And some of the looks of wonder and accomplishment in the kids eyes were just too wonderful for words.
Brian Baxter poses with the Yaak School members for a group photo during the Winter Tracks class. Photo by Randy Beacham.