When Johnny was growing up, he spent most of his time on the trap line. There he learned to become a highly skilled trapper, fisherman, along with many other things involved in wilderness survival. One of the seasonal transportation moethods was using a canoe, even in the use of the canoe, Johnny became highly skilled in terms of "shooting the rapids", portaging and also just to mention another form of transportation was snowshoeing.

While utilizing canoe transportation, Johnny would find someone to team up with to enter other community canoe marathon competitions. He became a well known competitor and championships were won at these events, however before, during and after these events, Johnny always shared his legend story telling, more than often being very humourous as laughter is a form of healing.

Johnny often participated in square dancing competitions, He was also well known in snowshoeing winning many numerous championships. Although Johnny was a very talented athlete in all aspects of the traditional events. He is most favored for his canoeing, therefore that is why we have named the canoe marathon after him.