Delmar Washington (b. 1948)
Delmar Washington is a member of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations. He got a drum kit when he was in his teens and played in local bands. He moved to Vancouver in the 1980s and played in a rock trio and toured around British Columbia and Alberta. In his early 20s, he went to Los Angeles to study percussion at the Musicians Institute of Technology. He drove truck to pay the bills, and finally had enough to buy one of his own when he stopped to think about what he really wanted to do.1)
A friend in Whitehorse was a helicopter pilot and, after a ride, he decided to go that route. He got his helicopter pilot’s license and started to work for Capitol Helicopters, eventually becoming their chief pilot. In 1995, he had an opportunity and succeeded to take over the business with the unwitting help from a bank and the support of Däna Näye Ventures. In 2018, Capitol Helicopter operated four machines, two owned and two leased. Delmar was busy with medical evacuation, search and rescue, big game surveys, forestry and water surveys, and anything else that came along. He also owns Great Northern Heli Sports, another helicopter business in Whitehorse, providing transportation for a heli-skiing camp for Indigenous youth.2)
Delmar Washington didn’t give up his music. He played the drums in several bands but is best known for playing percussion with Bob Charlie and the Klukshu Flats Boogie Band.3)
Washington sold Capitol Helicopters in April 2020. He said his favourite memories is of flying elders who could pinpoint the areas where they grew up on the land. They haven’t been there for years, but they still know the way from the air.4)