By Kathy Gallant

Flying Dust FN youth camp engages families

Jul 12, 2017 | 4:46 PM

Youth from Flying Dust First Nation and their families are learning a great deal about culture at the annual Family Camp this week. The event is taking place at Gladue Lake, 45 kilometres northeast of Meadow Lake off Highway 903.

Cheryl Bear is a volunteer and youth worker who is helping out with the camp. The endeavour was organized by the health staff at Flying Dust including Sheila Lambert, Mary Morin, Brenda Norman, Flo Bell, Chad Merasty, Connie Durocher, and Pat Gervais, and a number of volunteers.

Bear said the camp has operated for a long time; she remembers attending as a child, and is a much anticipated community-driven event.

“I went to youth camp when I was a little girl and I’m 27 now,” she said. “Even before I went, it has been going on. It’s always been a big thing in our community.”

The camp consists of full days of activities, including lake trips, musical entertainment, social games like ‘Fear Factor’, various types of panels and talks, and many meals. Bear said it is a great opportunity for community members to connect and celebrate their Indigenous culture.

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“We have guest speakers that come out during the day,” she said. “We’ve had the Chief to come and speak. We are doing an education panel. The speakers will talk about how they got through their education, their ups and downs and being away from the community.”

There are four teams who compete for points in a friendly competition throughout the week.

“The kids will go hunting and fishing, and there’s always elders out there,” she said. “If there is game that’s brought in, someone will sit down with the kids and show them how to skin the deer, or fix the fish. We had a bannock relay. They had to make the fire, make the bannock and then roast it.”

Bear added she believes this camp is so important because it brings the community together.

“Flying Dust is such a strong community,” she said. “When we go out to this camp it’s just like a big family, we get to visit and get back to our culture land. There’s medicines and berries out there [and] we’re connecting with nature.”

kathy.gallant@jpbg.ca  

On Twitter @ReporterKath