Over the course of two weeks, our Masters of Indigenous Land-Based Education cohort travelled to several communities within the Yukon, where we had the opportunity to lodge at two Interpretive Land-Based camps within Champagne & Aishihik First Nations Territory. During this time, we worked towards completing two of our program’s courses: Climate Change Education and Indigenous Cross-Cultural Research Methodologies. Throughout our trip, we were presented with numerous opportunities to learn about dän k’è (Southern Tutchone) language, culture, and traditions, through engaging and connecting with community members on the land.
During our first few days at camp, we were hosted by Harold Johnson and Meta Williams, who have worked to establish their Land-Based Cultural camp, Kwäday Dän Kenji (Long Ago Peoples Place). Harold and Meta shared that part of the intention behind their camp is to provide access for both local communities (especially Youth) and visiting guests to engage in dän k’è (Southern Tutchone) language, culture and traditional knowledges.
Throughout our time at Kwäday Dän Kenji, we also had the opportunity to participate in a dän k’è (Southern Tutchone) language class with Khâsha Reid, as well as sit down with Chief Sean Smith to talk about the impacts of climate change on both the people, land, waters, and our more-than-human relations across Champagne and Aishihik First Nations Territories.
One of the more humorous/ironic moments at Harold and Meta’s camp was when all of us Land-Based Educators asked our hosts for access to charge our electronics so we could work on assignments. Often our days were spent with limited devices and battery life, sharing readings, recording field notes, or documenting our experience via photography/videography.
We began our climate change education course while attending Harold and Meta’s camp, but finished the course at Shakat Tun Wilderness Adventures Camp. At Shakat Tun, located in the mountains overlooking Christmas Bay and Kluane Lake, we completed our first course and began our next course in Indigenous Cross-Cultural Research Methodologies.
Shakat Tun, which translates to “Summer Hunting Trail,” was built and established by James Allen and his family. We had the opportunity to connect with James and several of his family members, including his wife Barbara, sister Lorraine, brother Percy, granddaughter Maddie, and great grandson Harry – as well as several other community members who help to run and maintain the camp.
Some of the group activities we participated in included: carving paddle rattles with Jay Reid, learning traditional hand games from Matteos Reid, beading and caribou hair tufting with Sarah Johnston Smith, recieving teachings from James and learning how he and his family would set and pull nets for fishing (including how to prepare the fish once caught), visiting several different sites within the traditional territories of both the Champagne and Aishihik First Nation and Kluane First Nation, as well as navigating certain complexities like moderating our water usage for showers through our cohorts own governing system.
In addition to the myriad of activities, there were many moments for slowness, observation, and connecting to the surrounding lands and waters.
As an act of reciprocity to thank James, his family, and Shakat Tun, our cohort members designed a MILBE sign (to add to their sign collection), as well as helped to clear bush, haul rocks, and build a bench at the bottom of the mountain, next to a natural fresh-water stream that is accessed for drinking water.
I will always hold close to my heart the communities, the people, land and waters we had the opportunity to so meaningfully come into relation with during our time in Champagne and Aishihik First Nations Territories.