Students learn from Elders at annual cultural camp

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Forty-five students from the First Nations University of Canada (FNUC) recently took part in a unique camp designed to teach them about Aboriginal culture.

The students are all enrolled in the university's Indian Social Work program. Taking part in the 10-day camp is part of the program requirements.

The cultural camp is run annually, with the location changing each year to ensure the four directions are represented. This year, the camp was offered in the south, on Standing Buffalo First Nation, running from July 18 to 27.

The students earn nine credits by taking part in the camp. They spend two weeks in the classroom preparing for the camp, then two more weeks in the classroom following the camp.

The students participating learn about Native crafts, spirituality and traditions, lessons taught to them by the Elders that come out to take part.

"The students come out here to learn about their culture," Elder Walter Linklater said. The idea behind the camp, he said, is to empower the students to be able to help their future clients come to healing through traditional means.

"It's more than just a camping trip. It's part of the academic program," said Calvin Redman, director of the Indian Social Work program at FNUC's Saskatoon campus, who co-ordinated this year's camp. Students are required to keep a record of their camp experiences, and have to write a paper once the camp is over, he said.

Each day of the camp began with a pipe ceremony, followed by breakfast. >From 9 a.m. to noon and for one hour after lunch, participants took in teaching by Elders. Then from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., they learned how about traditional crafts, including beadwork and dressmaking.

At 4 p.m., participants went to a sweat lodge, with women having the option of going to a moon lodge, or women's teaching lodge, where Elder grandmothers provided the teachings.

Supper was followed by quiet time until 10:30 p.m., when participants turned in, said Linklater. The routine began again the next day with a 6 a.m. wake up.

A number of ceremonies were also held during the camp, including a full moon ceremony for women, traditional naming ceremonies, and two feasts, one at the start of the camp and one on the final day.

Although there are professional instructors at the camp, it is those who hold the traditions who pass them on, Redman said. "The Elders are the ones who teach."

There were four pipe Elders and three grandmother Elders at the camp. Redman said the role of the four pipe Elders was to be available to answer questions and give advice, as well as to pray.

The role of the grandmother Elders, Linklater said, was to teach the traditional women's roles.