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PEHDZEH KI/WRIGLEY
An event organized by Pehdzeh Ki First Nation has given some Wrigley residents an early taste of the fall hunt.

From Aug. 8 to 17, the First Nation hosted a culture camp and hunt at Blackwater Lake. Thirty-six community members participated in the event.

The combined camp and hunt was a new event for the First Nation, said Kyle Clille, Pehdzeh Ki's band office manager.

The First Nation holds culture camps throughout the year but none have ever coincided with the fall hunt.

This, however, wasn't the primary fall hunt. More community members will be going out later, said Clille.

"A lot of people enjoyed themselves," he said.

Helicopter trips sponsored by Enbridge Pipelines Inc. and floatplane flights sponsored by the band took participants to the lake that is located northwest of Wrigley. Two boats were also slung to the lake by helicopter and Rowe's Construction sponsored the gas for the hunt.

At the lake, a group of four hunters went out by boat every day including Darcy E. Moses, Justin Clille, Ernest Moses and George Moses. Elders David Horesay and Angus Ekenali also accompanied the hunters.

"Everybody had a good time," said George Moses.

Five bull moose shot

The hunters shot five young bull moose. Back at the camp, people worked together to make dry meat out of the animals.

"The whole camp chipped in," Moses said.

Moses normally goes hunting at Blackwater Lake almost every year. He said it was good to have more people there involved in the culture camp.

"Everyone was really helpful. It made everything easier," he said.

In addition to making dry meat, camp participants also cleaned and smoked jackfish that were caught in the lake. Some women also took turns fleshing and removing the hair from one of the moose hides so it could be prepared.

Berry picking and boat rides to traditional areas around the lake were also part of the camp, said Clille. The eight elders on the trip as well as the hunters were able to share traditional teachings about the lake, which has long been a favoured hunting area, with the younger people, he said.

Youth on the trip spent a lot of time swimming from a beach at the lake. In the evening, some of the youth told stories to the adults.

"It was funny," said Clille.

On Aug. 16, hunters returned with five beavers that participants helped to clean. People flew back to the community that day and on Aug. 17.

All of the dry fish and dry meat made during the camp has been divided among community members, said Clille.

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