Skip to main content

Find out more about the wildfire and wildfire-related concerns in the NWT.

Home Story Khoan Pham’s spectacular journey
Khoan Pham, Black Feather guide, navigates white water in his canoe

Khoan Pham’s spectacular journey

The Northwest Territories is rich with epic and unexpected adventure. So are the backgrounds of the expert guides that lead travellers through this vast land.

Black Feather has offered guided tours of the NWT’s most iconic rivers for more than four decades. Here is the amazing story of Khoan Pham, one of their longtime guides:

Khoan Pham poses with the team at Black Feather Wilderness co. in the Northwest Territories

It’s March 29, 1980.

Thirteen-year-old Khoan Pham arrives at Pearson International Airport in Toronto, one of the thousands of boat refugees to immigrate to Canada from Vietnam. Khoan grew up in a small village on the coast of South Vietnam and as conditions had deteriorated following the Vietnamese war, his family paid the requisite bribes so he could escape for a better life.
Khoan left his hometown in a 10-metre-long boat, which sailed for almost a week before landing in Malaysia. From the refugee camp in Malaysia, Fred Loosemore and I sponsored him through a Government of Ontario program to bring unattached minors to Canada. When Fred and I picked Khoan up at the airport, he spoke no English and had no possessions. We travelled home to Camp Kandalore, in central Ontario, stopping en route to buy snow boots, a warm jacket and to eat chicken dinner. It was Khoan’s first time using a knife and fork.

Khoan Pham a guide for Black Feather Wilderness Adventure Co. sits in a chair in the backcountry of the Northwest Territories

We got home in near dark and, since the camp road was unplowed, we had to walk one kilometre up a hill and over the snow to our cabin in the woods.

This was the start of a remarkable journey for Khoan. Since then, he has graduated from high school and university, worked at Trailhead outdoor store, become an accomplished paddler and cross-country skier, guided many Black Feather trips, married, and become father to two daughters.

Khoan Pham poses with his family in the Northwest Territories

Khoan adapted quickly to his new country. He has guided groups on the NWT’s Nahanni, Mountain and Coppermine rivers. He spent his honeymoon on the Mountain River. He is an excellent outdoor chef: his nickname in the kitchen is ‘Wok with Khoan.’ His eldest daughter, Hannah Pham, is currently guiding for Black Feather—sometimes with her dad. Hannah was one of the guides of Yellowknife’s Sir John Franklin High School’s Outdoor Excursion on the Nahanni River in 2019. Khoan’s youngest, Margaret, is at UBC and training with the Canadian women’s field hockey team.

Congratulations on so many wonderful accomplishments. We love you.

 

Wendy Grater,

Owner of Black Feather

 

Check out all Black Feather has to offer here.

Khoan

A person photograph a muskox in the Northwest territories

Guided Canoe Trip in Thaidene Nene National Park (12 days)

Jackpine Paddle

Activities

Birding Canoeing and Kayaking Experienced Paddling Lake Trout Nature Photography Nature Tours Novice Paddling On the Land White Water

This is our top trip for spectacular campsites and world-class hiking opportunities in a very remote tundra wilderness. Our guided Eileen River/Sled Creek canoe adventure offers exclusive access to one of the best wilderness wildlife trips in the Northwest Territories!...

$12,275

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person
View this Package
Blachford Lake Lodge - Aurora

Aurora Reflections

Blachford Lodge

Activities

Arts and Culture Aurora Aurora Day Trips Aurora Lodges Canoeing and Kayaking Cross-Country Skiing Cultural Demonstrations Fall Aurora Fishing Housekeeping Lodges Lake Trout Nature and Wildlife Nature Photography Northern Pike Snowmobiling Snowshoeing Stand up Paddling Tours Winter Activities Winter Aurora

Welcome to Blachford Lodge. Golden skies, glowing leaves, and aurora-filled nights. Fall is a magical time to experience the wild beauty of the Canadian North. From mid August through early October, Blachford Lodge offers a front-row seat to seasonal transformation in the heart of the Northwest Territories. As the land shifts from autumn hues to […]...

Starting at

$4,919.25

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person + $525 Air Charter + Gratuities (10%)

View this Package
Image related to 3 Night Aurora Viewing

3 Night Aurora Viewing

Brabant Lodge

Activities

All-Inclusive Lodges Arctic Grayling Aurora Aurora Lodges Birding Boat Tours Fall Aurora Fishing Fly Fishing Housekeeping Lodges Nature and Wildlife Nature Photography Northern Pike Tours

Brabant Lodge operates from August to September for Aurora Viewing Trips Included in Aurora Packages All excursions, events, activities and Aurora tours Professional guides Fishing equipment (rods, reels, lures, etc.) All meals All alcoholic beverages & soft drinks inside the main lodge Accommodations and housekeeping services Float plane flight to and from Brabant Lodge from […]...

$4,200

USD + 5% GST + Per Person
View this Package
paddling the Nahanni River canyons in NWT with Black Feather

Nahanni River 14 Day "Classic"

Black Feather – The Wilderness Adventure Company

Activities

Canoeing and Kayaking Experienced Paddling Hiking Tours Nature Photography Nature Tours On the Land White Water

The two week Nahanni River (Nahʔą Dehé) trip is the most popular canoe expedition on the Nahanni River. It offers the perfect opportunity to paddle the highlights of the Nahanni (Nahʔą Dehé). You may get to hike to the rare Tufa Mounds - the largest "warm-spring" tufa formation in the north, and will definitely reach the awe-inspiring Virginia Falls (Náįlįcho), and paddle through four canyons that are, in places, deeper than the Grand Canyon!...

$9,695

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person + National Park Fee
View this Package
Red Cliff Island Boat Tour

Red Cliff Adventures Island Boat Tour

Red Cliff Adventures

Activities

Arctic Grayling Boat Tours Cultural Demonstrations Fishing Lake Trout Nature and Wildlife Northern Pike Tours Whitefish

See the grandeur of Red Cliff Island on this 4-hour scenic boat tour. Ron will share his deep knowledge of the land’s history and significance while you enjoy fishing in the area or learning more about the culture of the Łutsël K’é Dene through traditional Indigenous storytelling. The East Arm is world-renowned for its amazing […]...

$300

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person
View this Package
Nahanni, NWT, Canoe, Nahanni Park_2024_Nahanni River Adventures

Nahanni Canyons from Virginia Falls - 12 Day Rafting Trip

Nahanni River Adventures

Activities

Arctic Char Arctic Grayling Aurora Birding Boat Tours Camping Canoeing and Kayaking Experienced Paddling Fall Aurora Fishing Fly Fishing Hiking Tours Inconnu Lake Trout Nahanni to Dehcho Nature and Wildlife Nature Photography Nature Tours Northern Pike Novice Paddling Paddling Rafting Road Trips Tours White Water

This trip takes you through some of the iconic features for which this historic river is renowned, including Canada's deepest canyons and Nailicho / Virginia Falls - twice the height of Niagara! Our Nahanni River 12-day trip covers the same distance as our seven day trip but allows more time for additional hiking and exploring, as well as savouring the beauty of the Nahanni Valley area because… why rush if you don’t have to?...

$10,595

CAD + 5% GST + $220.48 CAD National Park fees.
View this Package
Trophy lake trout & northern pike fishing at Nonacho Lake NWT

member icon Member
Nonacho Lake Fishing Adventures

Fishing Multi-day Trips Summer

Creating Memories for a Lifetime Nonacho Lake Fishing Adventures offers trophy lake trout and northern pike fishing. Wildlife abounds at......

Image related to Yellowknife Outdoor Adventures

member icon Member
Yellowknife Outdoor Adventures

For a Great Northern Experience! Yellowknife Outdoor Adventures offers a variety of day trips ranging from 2 to 10 hours......

Black Feather - the wilderness adventure company logo with picture of a yellow canoe and a paddler in the Nahanni National Park.

member icon Member
Black Feather - The Wilderness Adventure Company

Multi-day Trips

For over 50 years, Black Feather has had the opportunity to operate canoe, hiking and sea kayaking expeditions throughout the......

Aurora Hunting Tour - North Star Adventures

member icon Member
North Star Adventures

Day Trips Indigenous Multi-day Trips Northern Lights Summer Winter

100% Indigenous owned!  Experience the spirit of the untamed Canadian north with a 100% Indigenous owned tour company. Journey with an Indigenous tour company that still lives by the traditions of our ancestors. Feel the heartbeat of the land as we share the stories, wisdom, and spiritual connections that have been passed down from generation to […]...

Nahanni River Adventures a big group of hikers in the Nahanni National Park in the Dehcho region

member icon Member
Nahanni River Adventures

Multi-day Trips Summer

Spectacular river journeys on Canada’s most iconic rivers. Travel with expert guides by raft or canoe and immerse yourself in......

Kicksledding on the frozen Great Slave Lake in winter with two huskies in Yellowknife, NWT.

member icon Member
Sundog Adventures

Day Trips Winter

Sundog Adventures is a year-round experiential tour company based in Yellowknife’s Old Town. During the winter we offer kicksled tours......

Arctic Outfitting Adventures_Logo_2026

member icon Member
Arctic Outfitting Adventures

Summer Winter

We offer a Northern Arctic experience. Locally owned and operated outfitter for several years and counting. Based in a small, remote community of approximately 480 residents on Victoria Island in the High Arctic Our hunts are conducted with experienced local guides who know the land, the weather, and the wildlife We also offer: Snowmobile Tours […]...

Yellow Dog Lodge aerial view among trees on a bright sunny day along the Duncan and Graham lakes in the Northwest Territories.

member icon Member
Yellow Dog Lodge, Inc.

Multi-day Trips Northern Lights Summer

Yellow Dog Lodge is a comfortable lodge with 3 private cabins for our guests. The lodge is a short (15 minute) floatplane ride from Yellowknife. Located on Duncan and Graham Lakes, the lodge is your hub for adventure. Choose from an additional 5 lakes for guided day trip excursions. Each lake is unique and offers unspoiled first class fishing. We are the only lodge that operates guided trips on each of these remote lakes located in the NWT taiga wilderness. Packaged trips feature superb sport fishing and safe outdoor adventure. The lakes and streams offer the finest Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Walleye and Arctic Grayling in the region. As an added bonus, our guests will enjoy the midnight sun and may even catch the northern lights later in the fall or early spring....

Guided Canoe trip on the Keele River

member icon Member
Jackpine Paddle

Day Trips Multi-day Trips

Unplug from the commonplace with our Northwest Territories canoe and kayak expeditions. We specialize in true wilderness adventures to the......

3rd Canyon on the Mountain River in the Northwest Territories

member icon Member
Canoe North Adventures

Multi-day Trips

For over 30 years, Canoe North Adventures has made it our mission to create spectacular memories for life, and to show......

Arctic Range Adventures_2025_1

member icon Member
Arctic Range Adventure

Day Trips Fishing Multi-day Trips Northern Lights Summer Winter

Your unforgettable journey to the North starts here! With amazing new highlights for experiential travelers all our day tours and guided round-trips offer a great variety of summer and winter activities, which will leave all our guest with unforgettable memories. Arctic Range Adventure offers a unique range of exceptional experiences in the Arctic region, Yukon […]...

Aurora Viewing Cabins

member icon Member
Trail Blazer Tours

Book an adventure with us at Trail Blazer Tours for an unforgettable experience! Your adventure with us will create lasting......

Multi-layered Waterfall in Hay River with three people on a grey speed boat passing by in Northwest Territories.

member icon Member
2 Seasons Adventures

2 Seasons Adventures is a family-owned company. Our professional guides boast a lifetime of experience enjoying the unique lifestyle of......

Trail Blazer Tours aurora trip with the purple and green aurora in the sky over the lake and trees in Yellowknife NWT.

member icon Member
Blachford Lodge

Summer Wellness Winter

What began as a “part time fishing lodge” has now become a “full time Aurora Wilderness Lodge” open year round......

Yellowknife Tours Spectacular Aurora green and purple in the sky in the NWT.

member icon Member
Yellowknife Tours

Northern Lights Summer Winter

Come experience world-class Aurora Borealis viewing in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. We are the only guides in the Northwest Territories......

Simpson Air Float Plane at Glacier Lake in the Nahanni National Park in the NWT

member icon Member
Simpson Air

Simpson Air (and its predecessor) is the oldest continuously-operated flying service in the Mackenzie Valley, established in the early 1960s.......

View of Little Doctor Lake and Nahanni Mountain Lodge in Nahanni National Park in the NWT.

member icon Member
Nahanni Mountain Lodge

Remote private wilderness paradise on Little Doctor Lake, 100 km west of Fort Simpson. Accommodates 20 in cabins. Fishing, swimming,......

Bluefish Outfitting beautiful sunny day three boats docked on the Great Slave Lake in Yellowknife Northwest Territories.

member icon Member
Bluefish Outfitting

Fishing Summer Winter

With Bluefish Outfitting you’ll get an unforgettable trip of a lifetime. Bluefish Outfitting offers personalized, guided fishing trips and boat tours on......

Canoe North Adventures paddler on a serene lake with the sunset in the horizon in Hay River Northwest Territories.

member icon Member
Canoe North

Canoe North, located in Hay River, Northwest Territories offers kayak and canoe rentals and sales. We can set you up for a......

Huge Lake Trout caught by fisherman holding it up with a friend next to him on a boat and on sunny day in Kasba lake in the Northwest Territories.

member icon Member
Kasba Lake Lodge

Multi-day Trips Summer

World Class Fishing Within Reach Yet Beyond Belief For 3 generations we have been honing the Kasba experience to be like no-other. Our level of hospitality, dedication to the fishery, and a legendary passion for the experience that permeates through our entire team is undeniably contagious. No matter what you’re looking for in your fishing […]...

Narwal Northern Adventures voyageur canoe on Great Slave Lake

member icon Member
NARWAL Northern Adventures

Northern and Remote Wilderness Adventures Ltd. (NARWAL) is a small, friendly, majority Aboriginal owned and operated family business. Our reputation......

Pehdzeh Ki First Nations picture of picnic benches on a cloudy day in Wrigley with the Mackenzie mountain range in the background in the NWT.

Pehdzeh Ki First Nation

Pehdzeh Ki First Nation is located in the community of Wrigley, Northwest Territories, Canada. We are a Designated Authority in......

Image related to Northwest Territories Parks

Northwest Territories Parks

To truly experience the Northwest Territories, take your camping gear for a highway driving adventure! Long ribbons of road without......

Spectacular NWT </div> </div> </div> <!-- end .endo --> </div> <script> jQuery(document).ready(function(){ getReadingTime(); if($('.story-fullwidth section:first').hasClass('mediastack--hero') || $('.story-fullwidth section:first').hasClass('mediastack--video')) { $('#social01').css('display', 'none'); $('#social02').css('display', 'block'); }else{ $('#social01').css('display', 'block'); $('#social02').css('display', 'none'); } }); </script> </main><!-- /#main --> <section id=

© Northwest Territories Tourism 2026

Land Acknowledgement

Northwest Territories Tourism acknowledges that we are located in Chief Drygeese territory. From time immemorial, it has been the traditional land of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, and more recently, the homeland of the North Slave Métis Alliance. We respect the histories, languages, and cultures of Inuit, First Nations, Metis, and all First Peoples of the NWT and Canada, whose presence and cultures continue to enrich our vibrant communities.