A Tribute to Mors Kochanski

Mors Kochanski passed away on December 5, 2019 at the age of 79 years.

Mors – what can I say about Mors that hasn’t been said before by a great many people and said well?

Mors Kochanski was probably the best “Outdoor Living Skills” instructor in North America! He was an RCAF Survival School instructor, was with the Canadian navy, an Assistant Professor at U of A for many years, a writer, illustrator, magazine publisher and so much more. He taught survival skills to the RCAF, British SAS, Arctic Flying Nurses, Native trappers in northern Saskatchewan and an unending list of Primitive/Bushcraft/Survival students from Canada, USA, British Isles and Sweden to name just the major ones. He taught outdoor bushcraft skills to school children, teachers, adults and most importantly from our perspective, Junior Forest Wardens. Indeed, he was referred to as the “Patron Saint” of JFWs. He wrote the JFW “Woodstravel Guide” just for us. Yea!

While he has authored many manuals, pocket books, craft books, etc., his Northern Bushcraft (now called just Bushcraft), first published in 1987, is (to me) the definitive work. It is the only resource book listed in the JFW Saw, Axe & Knife Safety program. His long association with Karamat Wilderness Ways has ensured his lasting legacy, through Karamat and his many YouTube videos.

Mors was many things but at heart he was an unparalleled teacher who could span all age groups and instill the wonders and bounty of Nature in us all. He taught us not to survive, but to thrive in the great outdoors! He was our Yoda!

Mors had an insatiable thirst for knowledge and was a voracious reader. The “Library” building at his place has thousands of volumes on a wide variety of subjects.

He has left us an ongoing legacy of which I will only mention one; the Mora Knife was one of his trademarks and with it he taught us knife skills (LIFE SKILLS!)

He has now left to continue his journey and I hope it contains a little wood smoke, Mora knives, tin whistles, and boughs for the ground-to-air signal fires.
I’ll leave you with one of his many sayings, “Mother Nature doesn’t care if you’re having a good time.”

His name will be added to the JFW “In Gratitude” memorial which hangs in the Hall at our Jumping Pound Camp.

Walk well.

 – Brian McBride, Eagles Club, Calgary