Daughter of a Legend: Frances Golata Nicolson on Frank Golata’s Northern Life

In this special episode of Talk Is Sheep, we sit down with Frances Golata Nicolson—daughter of famed Stone sheep outfitter Frank Golata—for a rare, first-hand look at a life that can’t be replicated today. Born in Dawson Creek in 1938, Frances shares vivid stories of growing up on a remote quarter section in a log home with no running water, where winter meant melting snow for laundry, food came from the land, and the rhythm of the year revolved around horses, hard work, and the mountains.

Frances walks us through her father’s early journey—an immigrant’s son who couldn’t be kept indoors, who ran away at 19, worked wherever he could, and ultimately found his way north into the Peace. From trapping and homesteading to packing on major northern expeditions, Frank’s life was defined by grit, skill, and an uncompromising standard in the bush. We hear what it took to run two month-long hunting seasons, how trips were organized and supplied, and why Frank’s meticulous preparation (down to checking every fencepost) became legendary.

The conversation also opens a window into Frank Golata the artist and writer—his realistic paintings, his unpublished stories and diaries, and the behind-the-scenes details that shaped his reputation alongside names like Jack O’Connor and iconic northern hunts. Above all, Frances reflects on her father’s principles: respect for wildlife, a caretaker mindset, strict camp rules, and a conservation ethic rooted in lived experience. We also touch on the incredible history behind a Stone sheep ram mount Frances donated—now restored—so it can continue supporting wild sheep conservation for the next generation.

Presented by: @sitkagear

Supported by:

@yeti

@zeisshunting

@frontiersmengear

@onxhunt

@stoneglacier

@wild_tv

@schnee_hunt

@precision.optics

@gunwerks