Wade uncovering his heritage on Meti gangs, Wild McLean Boys, and Hunting

“To be honest, I didn't think I wanted to hunt; I wasn't sure I could.”

-Wade, Squamish, British Columbia, 2017

The idea of hunting first introduced itself when my grandfather passed; my dad half-heartedly asked me if I wanted his guns. They didn't think I would like them, but curiosity made me say, "sure." Growing up, I spent countless hours vacationing in Gramps' cabin on the Okanagan Lake, unaware of the guns in my presence. Nor did any hint of my bloodline's colourful l tale in British Columbia reveal itself. Parents being parents, they hid my family history from me; they hated it.

Squamish, BC 2017

My maternal grandfather had his firearms concealed in a secret wooden panel closet underneath the basement stairway. I inherited a model 1894 Winchester manufactured in 1911 and two model 12-12 gauge, manufactured in the 1920s. Along with the fire-power, I received a stack of faded black and white photos of cousins, uncles, and Gramps. Each person had a shotgun slung over their shoulders and proudly displaying their game they've worked all day to gather. While unearthing my heritage, I also discovered relations to the notorious Meti gang, Wild McLean Boys. Apparently, they were the original outlaws in the Okanagan and Nicola Valley areas.

As a kid, I got angry at my parents if they killed as much as a fly. To be honest, I didn't think I wanted to hunt; I wasn't sure I could. But then I had a taste of the wild game for the first time. A friend had shot a Grouse while we were driving down an old logging road. Despite already having an enormous trucker-sized breakfast, he had insisted right then and there on frying up the bird. My stomach, already filled to the brim, felt like it was going to explode, but upon his insistence, I took my first bite. I not only greedily finished my portion of the rich dark meat but tried to get at his share as well. And that was it; I started to kill.

My mom was upset with me for a long time after I told her I wanted to hunt. It's still not something we talk about, but she eventually got over it. Most people think of hunters as these big-bellied cigar smoking, whiskey drinking redneck men, but I went to college for arts; I paint, draw and write. I find being in nature and patiently watching the wild incredibly therapeutic; it's helped a lot with stress.

- Wade

Editors Comments

Wade is a weekend warrior and casual truck hunter. He prefers small game, primarily birds that he can quickly pluck and cook up. He enjoys bonding with friends over-elaborate campfire meals and showing them a different perspective on hunting, gun use, and the backcountry. 

On this particular camping trip (pictured), he was reading, The Lost Art of Reading Nature's Signs: Use Outdoor Clues to Find Your Way, Predict the Weather, Locate Water, Track Animals―and Other Forgotten Skills, by Tristen Gooley. " It's hard to digest the densely-packed knowledge in this book sitting in your living room, but when you're outside, you get a real-life reference while reading." 

He's been a great mentor and was one of the first people I reached when I started hunting. We were in the same circle of friends, but I had no idea Wade pursued wild foods until I started asking around. He is this soft-spoken, introverted man and the last person on earth I would assume to be into hunting. That is until he pulls up in his truck with Real Tree seat covers. The first time Wade picked me up, oh man, the look on my face must have been comical. I struggled to keep a straight face. Later on, he confessed, he had bought those to poke fun at himself. The self-deprecating redneck jokes never seem to end between the two of us when we are out chasing our next adventure. We drank bourbon, smoke cigars, and attempted to trap squirrels on our last camping trip. But all jokes aside, we both enjoy coming home to the city and enjoying the finer things in life, like a hot bowl of chicken pho. Our go-to downtown spot is an appropriately named joint called Pho Goodness on Davie Street. 

I would love to hear about how you started on your hunting journey; share with me here. 

Thank you for reading Wade’s story!

- Jenny Ly