Ashes on the Great Water describes the first canoe trip ever from Saskatchewan to New Orleans. Encompassing one province, two countries, eight months, thirteen states and 3,300 miles or 5,200 kilometres of wilderness adventure, Ashes on the Great Water is a memoir about experiencing death and turning it into the creative force of life. Set along some of North America's most iconic rivers, this inspiring book describes my journey to carry my uncle's ashes to the city he loved. 

My uncle Mitch lived by a simple yet noble code - be kind to others and listen to good music. The songs that played in his heart had a Cajun beat. But the music stopped when Mitch died of a massive heart attack at the age of 42. Suddenly and without warning, the uncle who was like a big brother to me was gone.

Because his experience of New Orleans echoed through his life and because my uncle had such a deep impact on mine, I needed to say thank you to him in a meaningful way. 

Ashes on the Great Water describes my unconditional determination to carry Mitch's ashes where they belonged. By taking one last trip with him, I discovered what I'm capable of when motivated by loss, by appreciation and by an iron resolve to take back some of the power death holds over us. 

​More than an adventure, my journey was about healing my soul after a loss so deep it could have held the deepest rivers. 

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I gave an interview about Mitch after he passed away. My message was that he made our lives better.

People ask me why I did this. No explanation is necessary if you knew Mitch.

He was the guy who shared home-made waffles with his neighbours Saturday morning. Mitch was generous with his words of praise and empathetic in your time of need. He wasn't perfect, but he had a sincere ability to make you feel like you were the most important person in the room. He left his indelible mark on those he loved. Mitch wasn't just my uncle, he was everyone's uncle. 

That's why I honoured him by canoeing with his remains on four rivers including the Mississippi.

The idea to canoe to New Orleans originally etched itself into the fabric of my being while still in school. Never did I imagine that my childhood dream would be darkened by death or that my trip would be a pilgrimage to my uncle, my hero. 

This canoe expedition was touched by the pangs of loss and grief, but also graced by the freedom of living along North America’s great waterways where every day offers a new adventure.

Travelling in a foreign country taught me to trust in the kindness of strangers, but I learned the hard way that not all strangers are kind.

Action and drama co-exist in this narrative shaped by remembrance and gratitude, danger and challenge. 

Ashes on the Great Water invites the reader to look at the way they live their life, or, perhaps more importantly, don't live their life. 

Christmas tornado, one of 35 that day in the Mississippi Delta.

One of the many colourful characters I met along the way.

"Can I see your driver's licence?" he asked me.

A baby mule deer hiding in the thistles along the river.

A monument to Sitting Bull overlooks the hills that were once his homeland. He is still revered by his people, as I saw in the Dakotas.

Adrianna read about my trip in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana newspaper and made two pieces of art for me.

The legendary Hadley Castille was a Cajun musician. A friend of my uncle, he greatly influenced Mitch's appreciation of Cajun, zydeco and Creole music.

My cousin Chantal Hamon joined me for a week during the trip. Here, we made a shrine to Mitch who we called "M'Nonc," French for my uncle.

The Mississippi River flows past New Orleans on its way to the Gulf of Mexico. (Photo Dale Sanders)

Read Excerpts from the Book