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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Grade 4 students in Yk1 schools have been learning how to trap, skin, prepare and cook beaver and muskrat over the past week.

"The class was specifically for grade fours, it was all the grade fours within the Yk1 school district, as part of the Dene Kede curriculum, and the theme was trapping," said David Radcliffe, the Dene Kede facilitator for Yk1.

Radcliffe brought along wildlife officer Danny Beaulieu and Charlie Sangris to help teach the kids.

"We travelled from Beck's Kennels by snowmobile out to a place called Octopus Lake, and they got to set muskrat traps and beaver traps," said Radcliffe, adding he went out there earlier to set the beaver traps ahead of time.

The kids would then check the traps in the morning, around lunch time and again before heading home.

In total, Radcliffe said they caught about 15 muskrats and three beavers.

"They learned how to skin, clean and cook the meat, and about the value of the hides, the use of the hides - not only the traditional uses, but they learned that hides were for clothing and you could sell the hides. Muskrat hides are eight dollars apiece," said Radcliffe.

Jesse Palfrey, 9, is a student at NJ Macpherson School. He got to act as assistant to Danny Beaulieu, a wildlife officer who helped them check the traps.

"I helped get the supplies and dig the hole for the muskrat trap," said Jesse.

He said he enjoyed the trip and would like to do it again in the future.

After learning how to skin and prepare the animals, the kids got to eat them. Radcliffe said they loved the food and the kids went at it voraciously.

"Oh man - like starving dogs these kids," he said.

Jesse Palfrey said he didn't try the beaver, but he enjoyed the muskrat.

The kids weren't grossed out by the blood and guts, said Radcliffe. He said it's the older kids who get grossed out, and the young kids were right in there.

"There was one little girl, she was helping dissect and skin muskrats and everything."

* The kids learned about trapping before going out, and they'll continue studying related topics. They'll be writing journal entries about the trip and writing about muskrat and beaver anatomy in science class.