Joe Buffalo Child’s earliest childhood memories are of the icy barren landscapes, the howling of wolves outside the warmth of his tent, and the emerald green of the Northern Lights – those fantastic colorful curtains dancing between the earth and the starry sky. For Buffalo Child, who was raised in the traditional Dene way by his grandparents in the Northwest, it all seemed like a dream.
Recently, social media has been filled with posts about the dancing Northern Lights; the striking geomagnetic storms that broke out last fall – and appeared again this New Year – have sparked discussions online. However, for Buffalo Child, who founded the Northern Star Adventures travel company in Yellowknife, the hype doesn’t mean much.
In an interview with Epoch Times, he shared that in the Northwest region, he has captured photos of “dragon-shaped auroras,” these spectral lights are ubiquitous there.
When asked by clients what it is like to live in an environment where the Northern Lights are constant companions, he replied, “It’s as ordinary as breathing air. How does it feel to breathe air?”
He recalled, “As a child, the Northern Lights were always with us. From ancient times, the aurora has been with us Dene people. So for us, it’s nothing new.”
Talking about his Dene heritage, Buffalo Child’s voice carries a hint of reverence. He is eager to share his cherished culture with tourists who come to his travel company seven days a week.
He introduces to visitors that the Dene people are indigenous to the Americas, sharing the same ancestors as the Navajo people in the southern United States, and speaking the same language. Approximately 30,000 years ago, the Navajo people migrated south through the Bering Land Bridge, while the Dene people remained in the north.
The spiritual beliefs of the Dene people are closely connected to the Northern Lights; they believe that the souls of their ancestors reside within the auroras.
As the CEO of Northern Star Adventures, 60-year-old Buffalo Child hosts visitors from around the world, including Korea and Taiwan (he has hired Korean and Chinese interpreters to assist). Visitors come with a passion akin to pilgrims, fulfilling their lifelong wish lists.
Despite a flourishing business, there have been lows as well. They are rebuilding from the ruins of near bankruptcy after the COVID-19 lockdowns. Nowadays, Buffalo Child constantly monitors weather changes, welcomes new teams, and leads them on Arctic expeditions. Driving through the winter wonderland, the journey culminates in the awe-inspiring experience of witnessing the Northern Lights, rarely leaving anyone disappointed.
Buffalo Child aims to make the visitors’ journeys soulful, establishing genuine connections.
He shares the story of his grandparents who raised him, now deceased, believing they’re dancing in the auroras. He tells the visitors that they are happy and will meet again, often hearing them cry with joy on these trips, which he describes as fulfilling lifelong dreams. “Our trips are not just about some sightseeing – it’s deeper, more special.”
The auroras seem to come from the east – or at least they appear that way. In reality, it’s Earth’s rotation that brings us through them, as they dance hundreds of kilometers above the Earth’s magnetic pole region, unrestricted by geographical locations.
Yet, Buffalo Child’s team still heads east to meet the Northern Lights.
A former civil engineering student, Buffalo Child knows every dirt road and intersection in the area like the back of his hand. His keen insight in finding the best viewing spots gives him an edge over the competition.
The journey east often leads to Pontoon Lake, where the night sky is pitch black, free of light pollution, and the lake shore is clear, making it an ideal spot to view the auroras. A few months ago, Buffalo Child captured one of his most memorable photos here, as visitors gazed in awe at the red and yellow light bands spanning the lake shore.
“Watching the auroras and stars – and the reflection of the auroras on the water – it was an incredible experience,” he said.
Since Buffalo Child founded Northern Star Adventures in 2007, the region’s auroras have attracted celebrities like Carrie Fisher, bringing attention to Yellowknife. In January of last year, Good Morning America featured him, marveling at the magical ability of smartphone digital sensors to capture and display colors unseen by the human eye.
On a dark night, Buffalo Child and host Ginger Zee captured a stunning green silhouette together.
The auroras have been a lifelong companion for Buffalo Child. He says he can’t pick a “favorite” sight to witness. However, among his tens of thousands of photos, he finds the “dragon auroras” that appeared on a rugged ridge in 2019 the most unforgettable.
“I captured the body and head of a dragon, you can see the eyes and teeth of the dragon’s head. It was incredible, as if the entire dragon’s body descended to Earth.”
Buffalo Child’s intimate relationship with the auroras has naturally led him to understand the scientific principles behind them: charged particles emitted by the Sun are captured by Earth’s magnetic field, gathering in the polar regions to form the “auroral ovals” that cover these areas. The particles display various colors, with the specific hues depending on their height.
When someone says the best time to view the auroras is during cold weather, Buffalo Child disagrees.
“The Earth’s weather system is 0 to 5 kilometers above the Earth’s surface,” he said, “the auroras are at 600 to 1000 kilometers high, not affected by weather.”
Yet, when he shares memories on the way to view the auroras with clients, scientific theories take a back seat. He reminisces about his childhood: “Life with my grandparents was beautiful,” he says, “our world was this land and the Great Slave Lake.”
Looking up, he sees the graceful light connecting him with his grandparents and ancestors. “That’s how I feel when I see the Northern Lights.”