Wilderness survival learned by doing

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A show and tell presentation about living on the land is what Bob Stevenson likes to do. Stevenson's presentations in survival techniques are derived from both an Aboriginal perspective and from non-Aboriginal teachings. In his school and conference presentations called "Life Skills on the Land Teachings" he emphasises respect for the land, water, plants, birds and animals.

Originally from Fort Smith, N.W.T., Stevenson, who is Metis, now lives among the Mohawks of the Akwasasne First Nation.

"It is an outdoor education: Native awareness survival in the woods," said Bob Stevenson. "I call it my little travelling road show.

He carries an 18-foot tipi on his van. Whenever he can he sets it up in the school yards during presentations. He arranges the inside the way Aboriginal people used to do. Some of the display items he brings along to his presentations include tanned animal hides, raw-hide, baskets made from birch or other types of baskets, tools made from wood or animal bones, drums, hats, moccasins, jackets, moosehide coats, moose callers, a lacrosse stick, and dance outfits.

During his presentations Stevenson points out some of the basic items that could be bought at a hardware store. He also teaches how to protect matches from getting wet and what to look for when buying flints.

"If the kids and the people knew just the basics of what you should know to survive in the woods, it will help them if they were ever to got lost or happen to get into a situation like that. A lot of the time it is just the simple things that they should know," said Stevenson. "First of all you need to know how to keep warm. The original way that Aboriginal people made a fire was by using a bow drill. I teach the students how to make a bow drill, which looks like the bow from a bow and arrow. The types of materials you would need, such as the dry wood that you need to make the bow with. What kind of string you would need. What you could do if you did not have any string, such as using the roots of a tree instead," he said.

Stevenson also points out to the students the types of plants that are edible.

"The little kids have to know these things. You've got to tell them," he said.

"I also point out the items that came from the ideas of Aboriginal people that are sold in stores today and used as outdoor survival items. Like hunting gear and stuff like that. The items may look modern like they were just born today, but they were actually adopted from the Aboriginal people," said Stevenson. He explains what else has been passed along: "In terms of the contributions that Aboriginal people made to society, including education, as in outdoor survival and hospitality."

Stevenson also encourages school children to go camping. While on the school field trips, he says, Elders from the nearby communities teach the youth about medicinal plants and hunting techniques.