LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Grade 5 students from Bompas Elementary School spent five days learning about their heritage across the river from Fort Simpson as part of this year's culture camp.

Zachary Tesou helps hang a gutted fish over the fire during the Bompas Elementary School Culture Camp. The smoked fish would later be given to visitors who were in Fort Simpson for Liidlii Kue's annual spring gathering. - April Hudson/NNSL photo

The students were given lessons in traditional activities such as fishing, smoking meat and making dreamcatchers.

They also learned useful skills, including how to saw and chop wood, how to set up shelters and how to keep their camp clean and garbage-free.

The camp began June 15 and ended June 19.

Each day, students crossed the river in boats, only to return every afternoon.

On June 18, students had the option of staying overnight if they wanted to, and erected tents for that purpose.

Grade 5 teacher Sharon Allen said the overnight camping was a good experience for the children, and no wildlife strayed into the camp - unlike last year, when a wolf prowled through.

Allen said her goal for the week was to teach the children in a way that made them do as much as they could for themselves.

"I try to make them as independent as possible," she said.

"It's all part of their learning process."

During the week, students also planted a garden, which Allen said is traditionally harvested for the Moose Feast in the fall.

The kids seeded and watered potatoes, carrots, turnips and onions.

Other teaching staff were on hand to help out during the week, including Bernice Gargan and Oragalee Wilson.

Gargan said after students plant the garden, they usually do not touch it again until the feast.

"They don't maintain it. They just plant it and leave, and it grows," she said.

Community artist Wilfred Joey Klein spent time showing the students how to weave a dreamcatcher out of supple red willow and brightly-dyed sinew.

"There is no right or wrong way to make the webbing," he told them, showing them different examples of dreamcatchers.

"If it turns out like this, it was meant to."

On June 19, before taking down their tents, the children enjoyed a hearty breakfast of pancakes, bacon, eggs, sausages and fresh fruit.

Mikayla Lafferty caught a fish just before noon, which she said was her favourite part of the week.

She also enjoyed learning how to cook vegetables, pork chops and potatoes.

"It's important for us to come to this camp and learn new things," she said.

"It's much better than being in school, and there is really good camping up here."

Zachary Tesou said he and the other students were taught about why it is important to learn about culture and traditions.

"It was really fun to learn about," he said.

As for the activities, Tesou surprisingly said the coolest thing he did was wash dishes.

Sleeping overnight also ranked high on his list.

"I like being outside because I only get to be outside sometimes," he said.

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