After 17 days cycling through the frozen landscapes of northern Quebec, the French-born adventurer known as “Petit Donnie” arrived in Chisasibi April 25 to explore the region, its people and culture.
The long-distance cyclist, whose real name is Donnie Edery, documents his expeditions online while travelling alone with his bicycle and camping gear, surviving in what he described as “complete autonomy”.
“I wanted the challenge to be cycling in harsh winter conditions,” he explained. “My dream is to be a professional adventurer, I love expeditions.”
The journey was not only to challenge himself physically, but also to discover northern Quebec, connect with local communities and learn more about their history.
“It’s a part of Quebec that I had always seen on the map, but never been to. And I really wanted to discover the place, its people, the culture, the territory,” Edery said.
“It’s the end of the road,” he continued. “For me, it has a strong meaning to arrive at the end of the road, see the James Bay, then, you can’t go any further with your bicycle.”
Edery crossed long stretches of the Billy-Diamond Highway, enduring cold weather and physical exhaustion as “resilience became part of the journey”.
Despite the difficulties, Chisasibi became an emotional highlight of his trip.
“I had a wonderful arrival,” he recalled. “I was so surprised and I felt so grateful because the whole community gathered to welcome me, it was full of emotion. They were honking at me, and we all ate together. They organized a really nice welcome.”
Residents organized a last-minute welcoming ceremony despite not knowing exactly when Edery would arrive because of changing road and weather conditions.
After days of surviving mainly on freeze-dried meals while camping outdoors, Chisasibi prepared a traditional feast for him.
“They had cooked fresh salmon with berries,” he said. “There were also smash potatoes with goose, and it was so delicious.”
Edery spoke with students about his journey at a local school. He encouraged them to dream big and look beyond the limits of everyday life. “I talked to them about resilience, determination and motivation.”
Community members showed him the frozen shores of James Bay, a moment Edery describes as unforgettable.
“I couldn’t have dreamed of anything better than venturing there on a snowmobile,” he recounted. “That was breathtaking. It’s all ice, there is a lot of wind, and it’s so vast. I’ve never seen anything like this, the frozen horizon stretches as far as the eye can see.”
Edery expressed appreciation to community members for their hospitality and kindness.
“They taught me so much about their history and traditions, they told me their story of forced relocation,” he said. “I was deeply touched to share those moments. That’s what I’ll remember of the Cree Nation.”
Throughout the expedition, Edery video-documented the journey for social media, where tens of thousands now follow his adventure. Since September, the 23-year-old had already ridden his bike 6,000 km across Eastern Canada before heading to Eeyou Istchee. The epic journey is his way to fundraise for Enfant Soleil, which supports pediatric care and specialized services for sick children.
“It’s a beautiful territory, the trees, the lakes, the rivers, the fresh air,” Edery enthused. “It is something that needs to be preserved.”
Reflecting on his 17-day journey, Edery said it was filled with challenges but taught him perseverance. “It wasn’t easy. You have ups and downs, but the most important is to take it one day at a time.”
Chisasibi member Christopher Herodier Snowboy said many residents were moved by the challenges that Edery overcame cycling through northern Quebec in winter conditions.
“He touched a lot of people with his will and determination,” Snowboy said. “They showed it by welcoming him openly into our community.”
After five days in Chisasibi, Edery left April 30 for Ottawa – this time by airplane.