The Goldbelt Heritage Foundation (GHF) and the Juneau School District sponsored the first Middle School Summer Day Camp: Aan Datchxanx’i yan Deiyí — Noble Grandchildren’s Path — for middle school youth from July 6 to 18.
Student activities included Tlingit, Haida and Tsimpshian introduction and clan identity taught by Lyle James; learning the AVID method of note taking taught by Anya Nelson and studying Native plants and gardening as shared by Darren Snyder. Alaska Native Brotherhood/Alaska Native Sisterhood members representing local Camps 70 and 2 presented a mock meeting using Robert’s Rules of Order and discussed leadership role as future junior ANB/ANS camp members. Students joined and participated with the Goldbelt High School Path to Excellence Academy at Auke Recreation Area to observe seal and salmon preparation utilizing Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) scientific and cultural ways of knowing. Other student hands-on activities included making a koogeenaa with Doreen Lingley-Naathlang and a deer hoof rattle with instructor John Smith.
The ultimate activity for the students was a day trip to Haines and Klukwan. With interpretation by Elder John Martin, Elder David Katzeek, Elder Ed Kunz and GHF Projects Manager Ed Hotch, students had the opportunity to listen to the rich cultural history of the local clan houses and property once inhabited by Alaska Native clans. The class was invited to the Thunderbird Clan House in Klukwan and be given historical Native perspective and significance by Thunderbird Clan Leader David Katzeek. A special luncheon was offered by the Haines ANB/ANS Camp. Jilkaat Kwaan Cultural Tours bused the students from Haines to Klukwan and generously accommodated the requests to stop at cultural historical sites within the communities. The Goldbelt Heritage logo created by Alaska Native Artist, Kashudoha,
Wanda Loescher Culp’s statement “drinking form the vessel of traditional knowledge” highlights the importance of the knowledge shared with our youth.
