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ULUKHAKTOK/HOLMAN - A group of about 50 Ulukhaktok residents travelled to Kidjivik, about 50 km outside of Ulukhaktok, to learn about living on the land.

The camp ran for five days. It was partially funded by the Aboriginal Healing Foundation (AHF), a national group that helps fund projects related to residential school healing.

Ria Alikamik, left, Carmen Pogotak and Catherine Kataoyak flesh a seal skin at the healing camp held near Ulukhaktok this August. - photo courtesy of Angela Kuneyuna

Children from Ulukhaktok were also given the chance to go to the camp with the adults.

Ulukhaktok's justice coordinator Angela Kuneyuna attended the camp though her work. She said it was an amazing time.

"The kids did mainly fishing. They went out seal hunting one day as well," said Kuneyuna.

She said one of the supervisors caught a seal while out hunting.

"Some of the girls helped to flesh the skin of a seal that the supervisors caught," said Kuneyuna. Fleshing involves removing any flesh from the underside of the skin so that the hide can be prepared for tanning.

Two muskoxen were also shot during the camp. The group harvested the hides and made dry meat. Although there was a lot of hard work during the day, people got together at night to talk.

"We had talks with the elders about camping safety. The elders would also talk about discipline and communication," said Ulukhaktok resident Joanne Ogina. She is the co-ordinator for AHF in Ulukhaktok. She said they try to travel out every spring and fall to camps.

Joanne said one of the kids' favorite things to do was check the fishnets. Some elders showed them how to set and check fishnets so they would have a steady supply of food for everyone staying at the camp.

"Everybody had a good time. It's nice to be out on the land," said Kuneyuna.