Noatuk Kennel was established in the winter of 1996 when we went looking for our first Alaskan malamute puppy. Noatuk (Mishka Northern Noatuk) was born in 1997 & he brought us into the malamute world. We experienced many learning challenges such as furniture deconstruction. But in the end we had brought one of the greatest joys into our lives. Noatuk also gave us a chance to enjoy the accomplishment of dog sledding; something I had only seen on T.V.

Some of the accomplishments we achieved in sledding were to bring Santa in to the mall at Christmas in Salmon Arm, and sledding on the long trail of the Kettle Valley Railway. As well Noatuk made it in to the local news paper in the lead position of the team. In August of that same year we took our first step into the world of dog showing. Well that was one bug that bites you & you never look back. It's kind of like owning just one malamute as many people will tell you. So on our first time in the ring Noatuk decides that the judge; Robert Forsyth is there to give him a belly rub during examination. Well Robert Forsyth laughed & expressed his enjoyment in the personality of Noatuk, while I was in sure panic. Noatuk got the winners male as well as best of winners for his first points & I was on cloud nine. We continued showing earning nine out of his ten points towards his championship. Unfortunately things did not turn out the way we had planned them & Noatuk had to leave us at to young of an age. He is still sadly missed as he was truly one of the best friends a person could ask for.

In February of this year Dave Palm came to me knowing full well I wanted to get back into malamutes with a gorgeous puppy out of his Roxie. He asked me if I would be interested in co-owning him with him & I said that would work out great for both of us. That is how Mekhi entered the pictured, named after a doctor on the show ER. Mekhi was a new beginning in the world of malamutes. But like most things they have not gone without a few minor speed bumps if you can call them that. First thing that has happened to our Mekhi is he came down with something. He was so sick that we thought the worst. We thought we were going to lose our newest member of our family. But much thanks to our wonderful vet, Marco Veenis we have our wonderful Mekhi around. But the fun was not over there. Mekhi decided in the middle of his conditioning & conformation training that it would be a good idea to break two of his toes. He was then laid up for four weeks recovering. He is back on his feet now & looking forward to starting his show career.

I would like to thank some of the most influential people in the dog show world to me. They have in many ways inspired, taught, helped & encouraged me to achieve what I have so far & hope to in the future. Firstly it would be Dave Palm for giving me the chance to reenter the dog world with what I think to be a magnificent representation of what a malamute should be with on of the best temperament out there. As well, Dave has assisted me with many aspects of dogs & dog showing. He also is a good ear with a reasoning word when things look to be going wrong. Ron Pohl for breeding Mekhi & allowing him to be a part of my life. Plus over the years I have learned from the breeding you have done & the excellent temperament & soundness you produce. Dave & Annette you are good friends and always willing to lend a hand. As well as give advice & even constructive criticism when needed. Last, but definitely not least Jackie Wilson you are like a grandmother to me as well as a dear friend I don't think you have ever said a nasty word about anyone always looking for good in people. Plus you never leave anyone out, even the new comer.

And to a great man who unfortunately is no longer with us; Bob Wilson you greeted me at my first dog show with a big smile & a big heart. You had no idea who I was but you were going to find out. You always had a way about you that everyone loved to be around. When you had your heart attack at the Camrose National I thought we should stop the show. But all that would have done was make you say why did you do that the show must go on. You had a great sense of humor that I will truly miss. I know that you are watching us at show after show so when I win the big one you will be the first person to come to mind & that smiling face that made me start this crazy world of dogs that I so dearly love & you left behind. Last but not least I would like to thank my family for there support & encouragement along the way.

So that is the story about us! Where we came from & where we are today.