The Dene Tha’ Community school has students from Head Start to Grades 12. Grades 4-12 students can attend the Cultural Camp held in the fall and winter for a five day period. With the support from the Dene local community hunters and Language specialists the camp infuses the Dene culture into their daily activities from hunting, to preparing and learning how to cut meat and dry it. As well as other cultural activities such as berry-picking, willow gathering, story-telling, and playing traditional hand games. This land-based learning portion of the curriculum includes the Dene language and culture. Dene traditional and cultural practices and activities such as Dene storytelling, traditional hand games, berry picking or finding willows to make sticks. In the winter, the Cultural Camp is at Bistcho Lake which is a fly in fishing place in the summer but in the winter, the students travel by vehicles. This location has five cabins. Some of the cultural activities taught are how to ice fish. The aim of this Cultural program is land-based that the school supports students learning of their Dene Culture. High school students, will earn and gain credits as part of the curriculum. There are many academic outcomes that can be attached to these Cultural Camps. The school utilizes language and cultural teachers to make learning interesting forthe students. Indigenous education should come from the community and work with schools.
Carlito Somera is the Principal of the Dene Tha Community School from the Dene Tha’s First Nation located in Treaty 8, Northwest of the town of High Level. The school grade levels are from Head Start to Grade 12. The school is located in the community of Chateh, Alberta. Carlito’s interview focuses on the Dene Tha’s Cultural Camps offered both in the fall and winter. This is a five-day Cultural Camp for students from grades 4-12. The camp is coordinated by local Dene Language and Culture Instructors. They are the responsible team for bringing in local hunters, elders, and other local members who can share their stories with young people. The boys lean how to hunt and the girls are taught to cut and dry meat. During the camp,
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| Organization: | Dene Tha' Community School |
| Location: | High Level, Alberta |
| Name: | Carlito Somera |
| Title: | Principal |
| Address: |
Box 30
Chateh, AB
T0H 0S0
|
| Email Address: | carlitos@chateh-education.net |
| Phone Number: | 780-926-1412 |
| Name: | Pam Greene |