Inuvik (Mar 13/06) - It takes a lot of work to keep his cabin in good shape, but Jeffery Amos doesn't mind the hard work.

Especially since living on the land is his forte.

"This year I've been out to my cabin more often than not," Amos said.

About 20 minutes outside of Inuvik, along the ice road to Tuktoyaktuk near Andrew Creek, sits Amos' cabin upon a bluff overlooking the East Channel of the Mackenzie River.

"I do a lot of trapping out here and will sometimes be out for a month in the spring or freeze-up," Amos said.

Amos also heads out to his cabin for day trips with groups of Inuvik students.

"I help teach the youth about subsistence and harvesting, things like trapping and fur preparation," Amos said.

Using brass snares to catch rabbit, students are taught to place the snares on well-travelled trails.

"It's been really hard to catch rabbit this year, maybe there's a lot of foxes and lynx around," Amos said.

Sometimes students are allowed to accompany Amos on the odd moose hunt when he runs low on caribou.

"Or if somebody in town asks for a moose or caribou, we'll take three or four kids out to help with the hunt," Amos said.

"I'll show them how to skin the animal and cut up the meat."

Amos often keeps students busy with many of the tasks that must be completed in order for the camp to remain operational.

"There's lots of equipment maintenance. The snowmobile and chainsaw need to be maintained," Amos said.

"There needs to be lots of wood because we go through half a cord in a week."

Amos prefers standing dead trees over driftwood because they burn better, but says there's more work to it because you must find the trees, make a trail and then chop them down.

Amos says there are about six camps in full operation in the spring and fall, but fewer camps are open in the winter.

But there's lots of ice-fishing in the winter, where fishermen can catch loche, coney and large whitefish found throughout the Delta.

Amos feels living on the land is a lost knowledge, but says that is one of the reasons he still has a camp.

"I have my camp to teach the kids."