DENINU KUE/FORT RESOLUTION
Deninu School students became cultural teachers when a group of Ottawa youth visited Fort Resolution the week of March 13, said Keaden Balsillie, Grade 7.

Raymond Norn and Kendall Collins, students at Deninu School in Fort Resolution, show off their dry meat-making skills last week while hosting a group of youth from Ottawa, Ont. as part of an Experiences Canada exchange program. The Ottawa group will host Deninu School students in May. - photo courtesy of Kristina Gerk

"We're teaching them how to do other stuff they usually would never do," he said. "We've been the teachers."

Balsillie is one of 12 students helping to host an exchange trip with nine youth from the Ottawa Presbytery in Ottawa, Ont.

The visit, which was scheduled to take place from March 13 to 19, was organized through Experiences Canada, a charitable organization that facilitates exchange trips for youth.

It's the first time Deninu School has participated, said principal Kate Powell.

"The idea is that it's a cultural exchange," she said.

The visit was timed to coincide with both Fort Resolution's Spring Carnival and the school's heritage fair, giving Deninu School students a variety of opportunities to showcase their culture.

Participants learned how to make dry meat, created their own dreamcatchers and went on dog sledding adventures, Balsillie said.

Dog sledding was especially popular.

"Most of them liked the dog sledding," he said.

The Deninu Kue First Nation provided cabins at Mission Island for the week, which included sleeping cabins and a kitchen cabin, Powell said.

The cabins are equipped with wood stoves and have no indoor bathrooms or electricity.

"It's out in the bush," Powell said. "It's got an outhouse. It's a really different experience for the kids coming from Ottawa."

Bronwyn Clifton, Grade 11, agreed. The trip marks the first time Clifton has visited the Northwest Territories and she said though the cabins are rustic, the group is enjoying the experience.

"They're really nice," she said. "They're heated really well so we're not freezing or anything."

For Clifton, the chance to visit Fort Resolution was too good to miss.

"I figured it was a once in a lifetime chance to go to the Northwest Territories," she said. "I thought it would be really interesting to see the land and talk to people in the community and learn more about their story and culture."

Dog sledding and making dry meat were two of the highlights of the trip, she said.

Elder Loretta Edjericon taught the dry meat making session and said she was impressed with how the Deninu School students shared their knowledge with others, Powell said.

"She was very proud of our students," she said.

Students also learned hunting and trapping techniques, as well as how to play Dene Games.

Hay River elder Philip Fabien was scheduled to hold a Feeding of the Fire ceremony the morning of March 16, followed by a hand games instruction session. Participants were then expected to take part in a mini hand games tournament before going snowshoeing.

On March 17, the visitors were scheduled to participate in spring carnival activities, including watching dog sled races and making crafts out of fur. Throughout the week, they also learned about the residential school system and the history of Mission Island.

Visiting the North and learning about history and culture directly from residents is key to promoting knowledge and understanding, Clifton said.

"I think that in the South, we really don't fully understand the different way of life and the culture here just because it's so foreign and far away from us," she said.

That exchange of knowledge will continue when Fort Resolution students travel to Ottawa in May, she added.

Clifton said she's looking forward to showing Deninu School students her hometown.

"There are the Parliament buildings, plus museums and art galleries," she said.

This summer is Canada's 150th birthday, making it an ideal time to visit the capital, Powell said.

"Ottawa has a lot going on," she said. "That will be a good time of year to go."

Balsillie said it will be the first time he's visited Ottawa and he's excited to see the city.

"I'd like to see all the buildings and how big it is," he said.

He's also hoping that wherever the group stays, they have access to a swimming pool.

"I really like swimming," he said.

Experiences Canada covers airfare and other costs associated with their exchange trips, which means Deninu School only had to cover the cost of hosting students for the week, Powell said. The same will be true when students travel to Ottawa.

Having those costs covered, especially airfare, has made such a long journey possible for Fort Resolution students, Powell said.

"We've tried in the past to do some fundraising for students to go on big trips, but

there is only so much money," she said.

Powell said she wanted to thank the Deninu Kue First Nation, the Hamlet of Fort Resolution and other volunteers for making the week a success.

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