LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - Moose stew, moose stir-fry, moose meatballs - if moose was an ingredient, the dish belonged at Bompas Elementary School's moose feast.

Nylaina Tsetso adds peas to the moose stew that Class 1 contributed to the moose feast at Bompas Elementary School in Fort Simpson. - photo courtesy of Val Gendron

On Nov. 3 the Fort Simpson school hosted its second annual tribute to the traditional staple of the Deh Cho diet - moose. Students and their family members gathered in the school's gym at lunch to sample the various moose meat dishes made by the different classes.

Hungry participants had their choice of three different stews, two stir-frys, moose on a bun and moose meatballs with spaghetti, otherwise known as porcupine balls. The event was a success with most of the students bringing at least one family member, said Val Gendron, the Class One teacher.

Gendron is the original creator of the moose feast. Before it became a school-wide event she had been making moose feasts with her class for approximately 12 years.

The feast was and still is the culmination of an educational unit on moose. Gendron teaches her students what moose look like, where they live and how they are hunted.

"It's what their world is," she said.

Children hear about their parents and other community members going hunting so it's only natural to teach them about moose, she said.

When it comes time for the feast the students help cook all of the dishes. Each child brought an ingredient to add to the recipes. For the stew, contributions included potatoes, carrots, onions, peas, corn and broccoli.

"They love it," said Gendron about the students' response to cooking.

Chandler Alexander, 5, was proud to report he helped cut the potatoes and vegetables for the stew.

"It was easy like pie to make," he said.

Alexander said the moose feast was a good idea, "since I like moose meat."

All of the students enjoyed the food, said Gendron.

"Delicious is what they say," Gendron said.

The feast also impressed Elizabeth Hardisty.

"I thought it was really awesome," she said.

Hardisty came to the event to support her grandchild Teagan Zoe-Hardisty. His class produced two stir-frys for the feast.

The students went to a lot of work to prepare the food, she said. Some families did bring extra food including fried bannock, muffins and other desserts, but the classes made the bulk of the menu items.

"From a community perspective it's a big project they've done," she said.

Hardisty said the event was also good from a cultural perspective as the students learned and showcased what can be made with moose meat apart from the usual roasts and boiled meat. It was also nice to see families donate some of the meat from their fall hunt for the event, she said.

Hardisty was able to sample a number of dishes at the feast.

"It was really delicious," she said.

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