Merchants of the Wild

Six Indigenous strangers are dropped into the northern Ontario woods with no food, supplies or shelter. As they learn to patch birchbark canoes, the reality of the adventure impacts Ebony.

A wet and cold first night affects Gabriella and the others. Elder Charlie teaches them the lifesaving art of starting fire with flint, while Michela's fear about their food supply grows.

The adventurers head out on their first paddle. They have to learn proper shelter construction from Knowledge Keeper Caleb Musgrave, or face another cold, rainy night.

After an extremely long paddle on the open lake, Caleb and Brendan must deal with their canoe's problems. They're relieved to learn the art of net-making on a secluded beach.

Food gone and net empty, the strain is telling on Gabriella as Elder Mary arrives with a gift and teaching that drives home the harsh reality of survival.

After eating "bush sushi", the adventurers paddle to a new camp with the hopes of more food. Gabriella, who is struggling, must be intercepted by the medic on the open water.

Tempers flare as hunger, exhaustion and no reprieve from each other pushes someone past the breaking point.

Michela struggles on the choppy lake as they make their way to a new camp where Medicine Woman Pauline brings knowledge for their bodies and insights for spiritual awakening.

Moving to a processing camp, the adventurers hope to maximize the area's resources. But with so little food and energy, success with their newest teaching could make or break them.

Tim discovers their valuable beaver pelts have gone missing in the night. With beaver jerky now their only source of food, Michela commits herself to maintaining their traplines.

Low energy and homesickness are straining nerves. Needing to move on, the adventurers welcome a change of camp and a new lesson in deadfall traps, even as winter looms.

Everything comes to a head as heavy snow signals that the end of the journey is near. Their final days are filled with bow-making and a mixture of melancholy, excitement and reflection.

The adventurers are reunited by Knowledge Keeper Caleb Musgrave, who takes them back to share what they went through on their journey and how it has changed their lives.