Yellowknife (Apr 08/05) - Cutting across the deep snow of Kam Lake behind a dog team, students from K'alemi Dene school in Ndilo got a first hand taste of mushing this week.

The seven-kilometre trek was part of a program designed to promote literacy and give students an up close and personal look at what is a traditional part of Dene culture, said principal Angela James.

Students read several books on dog mushing before heading onto the trail. The books were made possible by a $1,500 grant from the ABC Canada, a non-profit organization that promotes literacy.

Jane Arychuk, the school's community counsellor, said the money allowed K'alemi Dene to purchase a series of books that not only highlighted dog mushing, but other Northern activities.

Teachers tied the theoretical and practical together this week as roughly 80 students from K'alemi Dene School and 25 from Kaw Tay Whee School in Dettah participated in the mushing exercise.

"It was a lot of fun," said eight-year-old Brent Betsina. "I really liked the dog sledding."

Mushers Trevor Lizotte and Greg Krivda ushered the students - who were nestled snugly into a sled - across the melting snow of Kam Lake for about half an hour.

"They really seem to enjoy it and so do we," said Krivda.

Following their time on the sled, the children retreated to a small, wooden cabin where they read and practised Dogrib mushing nomenclature.

"The relationship between humans and dogs goes back a long way," said James. "We want to teach the children the spiritual aspects of mushing as well."