YELLOWKNIFE - While students enjoyed their time off during the long weekend, their teachers were on the land, learning about culture and tradition.

During last week's professional development day, Samuel Hearne teachers Eric Church, right, and Barry McEvoy were out at a campground with other teachers learning about Northern games. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

Teachers from both schools were supposed to travel to Sam Lennie's camp on the delta to spend the day in the bush, but due to a problem with flights, most of the group had to drive to a campground to learn northern games.

Sir Alexander Mackenzie school vice-principal Jason Dayman was one of the ones who went to Lennie's cabin. He said trips like this are important for the teacher as well as the student.

"Culture-based education is important for the schools here," said Dayman.

He said that once a teacher knows more about the traditional side of life, they will be able to bring that into the classroom.

"Doing these kinds of trips gives people the understanding about what has to be done," he said.

Dayman added that making use of the skills of people in the community is something the school emphasizes.

"I think Sam Lennie is a perfect example of somebody who is knowledgeable in the area," said Dayman.

"I would like to take some students out to Husky Lakes."

Dayman added that it is a long trip to get to the cabin, but the scenery is beautiful.

"I've been on the land here a few times, but at Husky Lakes, seeing new parts of it is amazing," said Dayman.

Dayman said he remembered what former principal Bernie MacLean told him a few years ago.

"He said the land here is so powerful, it really is," said Dayman.

Dayman said the main part of the trip was to familiarize the teachers with the land and to give them ideas to bring back to the classroom.

"It's a break from the daily routine as well," he said.

"Get out and have some fun, do some team building and get to know people."

Samuel Hearne teacher Eric Church said the experience at the Gwich'in campground was a good way for the teachers to learn the northern games and be outdoors.

"Our professional development day was more of a wellness day, to observe and try some northern games, which is always fun," said Church.

"We also learned about traditional foods and how they are prepared."

One of the activities the teachers did at the campground was a tea-boiling contest, to warm everyone up.

"We had to go out and find our own materials for a fire, we melted snow for the tea, but not too many people drank it," said Church.

"I think the snow might have been dirty."

The group of teachers had the day to learn from Abel Tingmiak and Kyle Kuptana.

"They explained the games to us and gave us a brief history of the sport in this region," said Church.

Church said that the traditional teachers from both schools were on hand to assist with the cooking of the traditional foods.

"That was really good, because we got to learn about the history behind some foods and how they are used and prepared," he said.

To end the trip, Samuel Hearne art teacher Barry McEvoy judged a scavenger hunt, which included both traditional and non-traditional items that could be found on the site.

"He did a fine job of scrutinizing everyone's items and to ensure everything checked out," said Church with a laugh.

McEvoy said the trip was good for the teachers who haven't had the opportunity to spend time on the land.

"Some people are too busy to spend time on the land," he said.

"This was a good opportunity for those teachers without vehicles to see some of the wilderness."