Culture Camp

As mentioned, Culture Camp is a 7 day winter camping trip and is a chance for students to learn and practise traditional skills like hunting, trapping, snaring and arts. It was an incredible experience which I feel quite honoured to have been a part of. This post will be a very brief explanation of Culture Camp. The photos were taken after our 3-day shut in (not going further than the kitchen tent or the sleeping tents for 3 days because of intense wind). So these photos don't give a totally accurate explanation of the wind we experienced for 3 days.

Culture Camp set up

The camp itself is much more elaborate than I pictured. There are about 6 permanent tent frames, with non-permanent canvas that just goes over when they are being used. Each tent has a wood stove in it and is equipped with bunks or cots.

Sleeping tents at Culture Camp

The lake itself is a 20 minute skidoo ride from Old Crow and as mentioned, is on White Fish Lake. All our muskrat trapping was done on a lake about a kilometre away (which we walked to) and the rabbit snaring was done on a creek about the same distance away.

Caribou meat

The students do indoor lessons that relate to the curriculum but that also help them learn about and connect to their culture in some way. They also spend a lot of time learning trapping and snaring skills out on the land. The students were very skilled at what they do, and they impressed me continually throughout the week.

Some of the lessons were:

-Skidoo Maintenance
-Dog Care and dogsledding
- Muscrat skinning
-Beading
-How the Gwitch'in used the tthal (caribou fence) to trap and kill caribou
-Food Safe
-Meat drying
-Rabbit Snaring
-Muskrat trapping

The Vuntut Gwitch'in People are known for their beautiful and intricate beading

A few of my highlights from Culture camp was seeing the best Northern lights I have ever witnessed, learning how to set muskrat traps, learning dog care and handling and seeing a beautiful grey owl and observing it for some time.

Recently trapped muskrat

This is a very short overview of Culture Camp, and is meant just to give a brief look at Culture Camp. I will put more detailed posts and more photos in the next few days. Mahsi Cho (big thank you) for reading!

Warm Regards from Old Crow,

Haley