Lakeridge School received $2850 as a Saskatoon Public Schools Foundation Power Up Project for students from Lakeridge and Willowgrove to attend a 3-day culture camp at Brightwater.
Lakeridge Parent“This was such an awesome day. My son came home and wouldn’t stop talking about all the cool things he got to do.”
Over 150 middle years students from Lakeridge and Willowgrove schools participated in the three-day culture camp. The students went to the Brightwater Science, Environmental and Indigenous Learning Centre.
The students attended the camp to learn about and participate in the moose hide tanning process. Students were able to experience hands-on learning because they attended the culture camp. Consequently, they were engaged in the experience and gained knowledge of Indigenous education and culture.
1st Day
- Students removed the moose hide from the creek. The hide was soaking because the water would help remove smell from the moose hide.
- The students removed the fur from the hide and learned that it can be used to make paint brushes
- Holes were punched in the hide so that it could be strung up in a frame.
- Students learned from an Indigenous Elder about land-based learning
2nd Day
- Students strung up the moose hide in the frame
- They began scraping the remaining meat from the hide
- Learned about tool maintenance and the creation of tools
- an Indigenous outdoor survivalist taught students about axe throwing
- an Indigenous Elder shared knowledge about working and learning from the land
3rd Day
- Continuing to scrape the moose hide
- Discussed preparing the moose hide into a drum
- Participated in more activities and learning experiences in the same stations as Day 2
The Lakeridge and Willowgrove students donated the moose hide to the Elder to build a drum with another school in Saskatoon Public Schools.
82% of Lakeridge students would do an activity like this culture camp again. They evidently had so much fun learning and participating in the culture camp.
Lakeridge Teacher“Thank you so much for allowing me to give this opportunity to so many students in the Middle Years grades at Lakeridge & Willowgrove. It is an experience that many will not ever witness again and helped students make connections with our indigenous community in a positive way.”