Gary Bailie has been cross-country skiing most of his life.

Bailie, a member of the Kwanlin Dun First Nation, got his start in skiing while in the T.E.S.T. program under coach and skiing legend Father Jean-Marie Mouchet.

After competing on the Yukon Ski Team for 10 years, Bailie, now a certified skiing instructor, decided he wanted to give something back to his community. So he formed the Kwanlin Koyotes Ski Club, now in its third season.

'This (running the Koyotes) is rewarding to me,' said Bailie, in an interview at the Koyotes open house last week. 'I wanted to get skiing going in my community. A lot of the people can't afford it, so I just wanted to make it free for them.

'It's about promoting healthy lifestyles, showing them an alternative path to health and feeling good about life.'

The club's ski trails, which are named after Mouchet, run behind the McIntyre subdivision and are free to all residents of Whitehorse, thanks to a lot of hard work by Bailie and his volunteer staff.

'I buy the gas, have all my own equipment and pack the trails,' he said. 'It's not really work to me. Skiing is a big part of my life.'

Bailie estimated about 40 people hit the club's trails last year, and he is hoping to surpass that number this year.

'Already, 15 kids came out New Year's Eve. We started our New Year on skis. And while numbers are a way of evaluating the growth of sport, the value of what everyone gets out of it is immeasurable.'

While it was mostly youth using the McIntyre trails in the beginning, Bailie said a lot of parents are starting to strap on the skis as well.

'We have nowhere to go but up,' he said. 'We're starting at the beginning, making a difference and people are liking it. Being healthy and feeling really good is its own reward.'

In fact, the Koyotes are also instructed on a proper diet to supplement their exercise. Viola Papaquash does a lot of the cooking and snack preparation.

'I couldn't do this without the volunteers,' said Bailie. 'Ron Pearson, Viola Papaquash, Yvonne Harris, Peter Steele and Jody Walker. They all ski with the kids and help out. They come out here on a regular basis.

'The Chief and Council of Kwanlin Dun have been very supportive. Our goal is to get them out here on skis.'

One of the main goals for Bailie is to get the youth out skiing on Kwanlin Dun's traditional land.

'I want to lay track on traditional land, so the kids can be inspired by the land itself,' he said. 'And we can talk to the kids about our ancestors out there.

'Kids are never very good at listening to their elders, but they never fail to immitate them.'

That's why Bailie is trying to set a really good example. He was recently named one of eight new Aboriginal sport role models, by theYukon Aboriginal Sport Circle. The program highlights aboriginal coaches and athletes who have obtained outstanding recognition in their communites, for participation and leadership in sport.

'I saw it as something that could really help raise the profile of aboriginal sport,' said Bailie. 'It inspired me to work harder.'

Bailie is hoping to get some of the other First Nations involved with his club and involved in skiing in the near future.

'It's important to have a vision,' he said.

For now, the Kwanlin Koyotes will prepare for their next big challenge - the Northwestel Loppet. The Koyotes have taken part in the Loppet since the club formed three years ago.

Bailie has also invited the Canadian Ski Patrol to visit the McIntyre trails and talk to the Koyotes about safety. And the club continues to work on their relationships with the Whiteorse Cross-Country Ski Club and the Yukon Ski Team.

'I actually give a lot of credit to Alain Masson (the coach of the Yukon ski team). He's taught me a lot, and been very supportive.'

Bailie is hoping he can do the same for the Koyotes.

'I will be skiing until I die,' he stated bluntly. 'I will keep it alive.'