Northwest Territories

Indigenous tour guide Joe Bailey reveals the legends behind the Aurora Borealis and the timeless Canadian region he calls home

Having been raised by my grandparents on the traditional Indigenous Dene lands, I’ve been fortunate to have seen and experienced the Northern Lights many times throughout my life. They remain very special to me, not only because they’re an incredibly unique and beautiful natural phenomenon, but also for the cultural and spiritual significance they have.

“When you see the Northern Lights, it means someone close, maybe a good friend or a relative who has passed away, is letting you know they’re okay now,” my grandparents used to tell me when we’d camp out in the winter wilderness. “They want you to be happy, live a good life and know that you will meet them again one day.” I still feel this every time I catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights’ unearthly dance across the sky.

I’m now very fortunate to own my own tour company, North Star Adventures, which does aurora tours in Yellowknife and allows me to make a living doing what I love — hunting for the Northern Lights. People often say to me, “Joe, you see the Northern Lights all the time — does it ever become tedious?” To which I always give the same response, “Never.”

Tour guide Joe Bailey was born and raised in the Northwest Territories, Canada