Char-Koosta News
A group of youngsters sat down to learn how to bead. Youth from the Boys and Girls Club, Friends of the Children, and Nkwusm school visited stations led by knowledge keepers. In one day, over 200 children attended stations at the camp.
BLUE BAY — Under the summer sun, youth and families gathered at the Blue Bay Campground, weaving tule reed canoes and learning ancestral skills that connect them to their cultural roots. CSKT Education Department sponsored the camp and it was a successful event enjoyed by all who attended.
Aspen Decker, a knowledge keeper and artist, described the camp as a transformative experience. “It’s about generational knowledge transfer,” Decker said. “We’re teaching children how our ancestors lived, learned, and cared for the land.”
Nearly 400 children from local communities participated in the week-long program, engaging with over 28 knowledge keepers who taught traditional skills ranging from canoe-making to fishing.
Allen Pierre taught people young and old to create parfleche pouches.
“These youth are learning through doing,” Decker explained. “They’re not just hearing stories; they’re creating tools, swimming in the lake, and understanding their responsibilities to the community.”
The camp’s approach mirrors traditional indigenous teaching methods, emphasizing hands-on learning and intergenerational connections. Children as young as elementary school age worked alongside teenagers, sharing skills and building community bonds.
“Every year we get better,” Decker said. “We’re learning as we go, just like our ancestors always did.”
The camp represents more than a camp; it’s a living cultural preservation effort, ensuring indigenous traditions continue to thrive.
