Students feast on lessons learned at Culture Camp

Students learned Native traditions and culture last month at the revived Culture and Environmental Stewardship Camp.

About 25 students spent July 20-23 at the former Chilkoot campsite near the end of Chilkoot River Road learning about Tlingit traditions.

Campers filleted and canned salmon, sharpened knives, made jewelry, listened to stories from elders, painted paddles, drummed and danced, canoed and learned Tlingit language.

Younger participants spent the day from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. while older students camped overnight.

The camp ended with a feast to eat the fish campers caught and celebrate what participants learned.

This was the second year culture camp had been revived since a successful culture camp operated here decades ago.

The Haines Borough Public Library joined forces with the Chilkoot Indian Association to plan the event. It was sponsored by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Takshanuk Watershed Council, Alaska Native Sisterhood, Sealaska Heritage Center, Central Council Tlingit Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, the Institute of Museum and Library Research, the Chilkoot Indian Association and Haines Borough Public Library.

Benjamin Bard, who volunteered as camp staff, said he was most excited when campers crossed paths with a brown bear during their canoe trip on the Chilkoot River.

Local staff, volunteers and chaperones included Heather Powell of Hoonah, Mary and Sue Folletti, Zephyr Sincerny, Ted and James Hart, Jessie Morgan, Chloe Goodson, Jolanta Ryan, Benjamin Bard and more.