Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Jean Marie River (Aug 19/05) - They know video games. They hardly know the bush.

To give them a better sense of life on the land, 10 teenagers from the Deh Cho took part in an ecology/traditional knowledge camp at mouth of Trout River Aug. 8-14.

Jerry Antoine, who was on hand to teach traditional skills, said elder Ernest Hardisty told the youth that when he was 13 he travelled from Jean Marie River to Fort Simpson by dog team and slept out on the land. Today's adolescents aren't so capable because they are living in "administrative centres" and are distanced from the bush, said Antoine.

"The level of knowledge of being out on the land is very minimal for them," he said.

Although they may have had limited exposure, they had ample enthusiasm.

Upon returning to Jean Marie River for a community feast on Sunday, the youth were admittedly tired but some of them were still buzzing about their experiences.

Shawn Bonnetrouge, who has been on the land previously with his grandparents Albert and Caroline, called last week's excursion "awesome."

He said he and the others shot ducks, skinned a beaver, made dry meat, set rabbit snares, visited burial sites, learned canoeing skills and set a fish net which caught them four jacks and a whitefish.

At night they would sit around the camp fire and tell stories.

"It was pretty cool. The week went pretty fast," he said, coughing and acknowledging that he caught a cold after swimming in the chilly waters of Trout River. He chewed on some rat root and downed several cups of Labrador tea to combat his ailment," he said.

The youth also went on an overnight trip to Redknife, a traditional gathering place.

They took along very few possessions and slept on a tarp under the stars.

The camp, which was sponsored by the Dehcho First Nations and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, blended traditional knowledge with science.

Wildlife technician Danny Allaire showed students how to read maps; use a global position system (GPS); how to determine a tree's age, height and diameter; how fire inter-relates to forest ecology; and explained why collaring and monitoring animals and taking biological samples are useful processes.

He also informed them that they can further these skills towards a career, such as being an environmental monitor.

On the final day, the teens held a drum dance and hand games.

"It was a really powerful way to end the camp," said instructor Michael Cazon, whose parents Gabe and Mary spent many of their days at the Trout River site.

Jordan Nahanni said the camp taught him hunting skills and improved his ability to speak in Slavey. Asked what the best part of the camp was, he replied, "Everything."