黑料吃瓜网

Gerry Kisoun鈥檚 life as a youth was something like the cultural camp East Three students took part in this week.

鈥淚 used to live in a tent when I was growing up in the delta,鈥� said Kisoun, who helps facilitate on-the-land learning experiences that see groups of students go out in the morning and afternoon to Boot Lake, spend time in a tent, learn about trapping, and 鈥� the highlight of it all 鈥� pull up the fish net from the ice and see what their catch is.

鈥淢y mother would make pancakes in the morning and we鈥檇 go to school. My dad has a fish net right in the river here. He had his dogs tied down on the riverbank and that鈥檚 how I grew up.鈥�

Now he relishes the chance to walk down memory lane with the students and show them how life used to be.

鈥淐atch one or two fish in there and they get very lively and excited,鈥� said Kisoun. 鈥淭o show these kids about what life used to be at one time, that鈥檚 awesome.鈥�

Bella Kay, former staff member at East Three Elementary School, was helping lead the classes this week too.

鈥淚 was brought up out on the land,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 familiar with what鈥檚 going on today and I鈥檓 happy about it, that they鈥檙e learning what our ancestors and our grandparents and our parents taught us. It鈥檚 good to share it with them. I find the children are excited about it.鈥�

Matthew Miller, vice-principal of East Three Secondary School, is leading the program this year.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 important that all the kids get an experience to see this lifestyle,鈥� said Miller.

鈥淪ome of our kids don鈥檛 have that opportunity to go out on the land, so we鈥檙e trying to provide that experience.鈥�

An important part of the experience is learning Gwich鈥檌n and Inuvialuit words for the activities taking place.

After a big haul of fish Monday, students were able to each bring one home to their family, which Miller said is his favourite part of the program.