Fort Resolution (Oct 16/06) - Fort Resolution's Deninu School went all-out with its fall culture camp for students.

The school held the culture camp Oct. 2 to 6 at Little Buffalo River, about 20 kilometres west of the community.

Fort Resolution elder Mae Sayine checks on the dry meat at a culture camp put on by Fort Resolution's Deninu school. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

"This is the biggest we've ever had," said camp co-ordinator Angie Fabien, a special needs assistant at the school.

Fabien said the school's previous culture camps were often held at the community arbour and were smaller in scope. Along with being held at Det'an Cho Tourist Camp at Little Buffalo River for the first time, this year's camp featured more activities.

The students were shown how to make bannock, dry meat and dry fish. Plus, they participated in hauling fishing nets, handgames, drumming, and storytelling with elders.

About 110 students, from Kindergarten to Grade 12, were taken to the camp, a couple of classes going out each day.

"The students enjoyed themselves to the fullest," Fabien said. "Some of them didn't want to go home. They didn't want the day to end."

Jessie Sanderson, a 17-year-old Grade 12 student, enjoyed the camp.

"This is way better than what we used to do before," she said, noting there were cabins, tents and fishing.

She also explained the camp was better because more people were involved.

Sanderson said the camp showed the young people how elders used to live, and gave young and old a chance to spend some time together.

"It's fun getting to know them," she said, noting youth and elders often say hello as they pass one another on the street in Fort Resolution.

Elder Mae Sayine taught dry meat making, noting it was the first time she was involved in a culture camp.

She said the young people were enthusiastic to learn the ways of the bush.

However, Sayine noted the youngsters weren't the only ones learning. "You can learn from the kids and they learn things from us."

Fabien said the camp was a community effort.

Four elders helped throughout the week, while other elders and community members dropped in from time to time.

"Everybody was more than welcomed to come," she said. "Everyone was involved."

She noted the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Fort Smith also helped out by loaning three tents and some stoves.

Fabien hopes the expanded culture camp will continue with others in the winter and the spring.

Such camps are important for students, she said. "It teaches them their culture.