Yellowknife (May 26/06) - Spring is here and so are the fourth annual aboriginal language and culture camps at Yk Education District No. 1 schools.

Throughout May and June, all Yk 1 schools will get a chance to see and experience life in a traditional Dene spring camp.

Eight-year-old Ken Aujla sips some authentic bush tea at the aboriginal language and culture camp at J.H. Sissons school. - Jessica Gray/NNSL photo

"I liked seeing the beaver tails," said J.H. Sissons Grade 2 student Ken Aujla.

Curing and preparing meat, skinning muskrats and learning about trapping are only some of the activities students are learning about.

The camps are open to all students as part of the GNWT approved Dene Kede curriculum - meaning Dene world view, according to the aboriginal education co-ordinator Barb Cameron - that is taught to children from kindergarten to Grade 9.

The camps are important because they provide a chance for students to live what they are learning, said Cameron.

"It's important for all students - aboriginal and non-aboriginal - to have a connection to the land," said Cameron.

Grade 2 teacher Tara Hayne agrees.

"For most kids, this is the first time they're seeing how things were done... and they have a clear picture," she said.

Yk 1 camp facilitator and volunteer Brenda Dragon said events were planned over the course of several weeks.

Nine people, all aboriginals from Yellowknife, Ndilo and Dettah, have volunteered their time to make the three day camps for each school happen, said Dragon.

"It's a real experience with real people," said Dragon. "(The students) are absolutely captivated."

Elder and trapper George Tatsiechele said he enjoys teaching the children about traditional life so they will learn to understand his culture better.

"They'll know if they ever travel out in the country and see something familiar (like traps) that they belong to a trapper," said Tatsiechele.

The last camps will be held June 6-8 at William McDonald school.