Project Moose Hide teaches Deline youth traditional skills

The loss of culture and traditional skills is a problem in Aboriginal communities across the country, but a group working in Deline, Northwest Territories is trying to stop that from happening.

The Moose Hide project is a traditional Dene camp, set up in the middle of the small Northern community. Boys at the camp learn to cut wood and make drums, while girls learn to sew, cook, and work with hides.

Elders like Stella Mackeinzo say the camp is needed to pass these skills to the next generation. 

"When all the elders are gone, they will have to do it themselves," says Stella Mackeinzo. "If we don't teach them, they can't do that. They will not know what to do."

Still, Mackeinzo is worried that not enough youth are taking part. The community's population is about 500, and only 10 youth are currently in the camp.

"A whole bunch of them don't know nothing," she says. "It's not good. They have to learn how to do it."

'Live in the old style'

One of those participants is Ethan Tutcho. It's his first day at the Moose Hide project.

"I want to see how it is like to live in the old style," he says. "The history past."

Tayla Tutcho, who is 10 years old, says that she's hopeful more of her friends will take part in the future.

"They are just running around, trying to do bad stuff," she says. "They don't think it's fun. But it is actually fun here."

Despite the modest turnout, Darwin Baton, who runs the project, is hopeful. He's wants expand the camp, and hire two more elders to teach skills to local youth.

"I like what I see here," says Baton. "Everyone is laughing. Getting to know one another — just basically a community."

According to Baton, the goal is to have the participating youth pass on what they learn to their friends — and, eventually, their children. 

The camp runs until the end of August.