Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

INUVIK (Mar 12/99) - Action is stronger than words.

This is essentially what the Nihtat Gwich'in Council believes as it has started converting talk of getting kids out on the land into practice.

Its on the land program, at a camp about 15 kilometres up river from Inuvik, started March 1 for SAM school kids and ends tomorrow.

Next week, classes from Samuel Hearne school will take trips out to the camp where they will be joined by elders who speak the Gwich'in language. As a result, the program will be given almost entirely in Gwich'in.

The trips by SAM school classes were not language-based but instead focused on snow shoeing and learning how to set rabbit snares.

Students on the day trips met John Jerome and Alice Francis and witnessed their traditional camp lifestyle.

Elders such as Ruby McLeod and Rowena Edward have also come along to help out however possible. For example, they showed the kids how to skin a caribou, after which they all enjoyed caribou soup and bannock.

"There's no (rabbit) tracks around here though. It's too cold now. Maybe at the end of the month," Jerome says while handling rabbit snare wire inside his cabin.

"Some parts of the year there are rabbits here, there, all over around here."

But despite the learned comments from 54-year-old Jerome, who has lived as a hunter, trapper and land survivor all his life, some kids set snares anyway and keep returning to see if they have caught any rabbits.

"It's fun," says Johnny Koe, sitting inside Jerome's warm cabin after sliding down hills with friend Matthew Lavoie.

"I like the snow shoeing."

Along with passing out snow shoeing tips, Jerome also showed some kids where he gets his water from the Delta every morning before covering the hole back up with cardboard.

And while inside his cabin awaiting a second load of students, Jerome discusses aspects of camp life.

"You hang (moose meat) up to dry," he says, pointing to beams in the ceiling.

Though drying the meat does not make it so it can last indefinitely, as jerky, it does provide a bit more longevity.

"Maybe one day your buddy comes from Inuvik and then it's all gone," Jerome says, before letting loose with an infectious laugh.

"So it depends (how long the meat can last)."

But as he talks jovially with the kids and offers tea to other visitors, he says a few times how, "It would be nice if I could have more people here for the camp."

Anyone who speaks Gwich'in is particularly welcome next week.