Youth Camp

Anishiative has been looking for a good location to establish a permanent home for a future youth camp. Rylee contacted a farmer about building one in Fraserwood.

“We’re building the camp as we speak, we have tipis there, we have a 16-by-140-foot building in development. We’ve already run a camp here and it was very successful, so we’re looking to continue and build off of that,” says Rylee. “The activities are based around a lot of land-based teachings and healings — making things like bannock and tea, trapline making, traditional Indigenous games, paint workshops, and storytelling is one of our favourite things to do.”

“Then there are things like a ribbon skirt making workshop,” adds Haley. “Making drums, setting up tipis, going through that process. Making sure everyone can get involved. Last year at our healing retreat we harvested a bunch of willow trees. We built a sweat lodge and we sweated in it. Trying to follow through these processes with youth is important; starting something, finishing it, using it for its purposes. Last year we hosted a woodland Cree artist and we painted beautiful little birds.”