Culture

The Culture Program at Eenchokay Birchstick School allows the students to gain opportunities outside of the classroom. These opportunities include trapping, fishing, gillnetting, food preparation/safety and beading/sewing.

Over the years, the Culture Program has been able to take high school students to the Hudson Bay Coast to go Snow Goose Hunting. This is a trip that has been enjoyed for many years. The students were able to experience the Hudson Bay Coase and see what the Tundra looks like. Other students were taken on a Fall Hunt where they were able to hear moose, fish, portage and be out on the land. They were kept very busy throughout both trips.

Another way students are able to experience land-based learning is through daily outtakes. Students on outtakes go fishing, gillnetting, grouse & partridge hunting, check marten traps as well as ice-fishing and checking the gillnet during the winter season. The students are usually very successful on their trips as they were able to trap many different animals. The students trapped a wolverine, lynx, fox, wolf, fisher, mink, marten, squirrels, weasel and rabbits. They were also able to witness the animals being skinned and boarded.

Alongside the Female Culture Instructors, students were able to learn how to filet and cook fish, gut and skin rabbits, make Bannock and kitchen/knife safety. The students were provided with cooking lessons for traditional foods.

Alongside the sewing program, students were taught how to make bracelets, necklaces, earrings and a variety of sewing activities.