LISTUGUJ, Que.-Mi'kmaw Students in one Canadian school are learning about life-sustaining elements of their Indigenous culture in very practical ways. Recently, eight students at the Alaqsite'w Gitpu School school in Listuguj, Que., were taken hunting as part of their outdoor education program.
The school started an outdoor education program two years ago, encouraging and teaching fifth- to eighth-grade students to spend two hours a week doing land-based activities. They learn about land stewardship and seasonal activies.
The community puts a lot of focus on hunting, so as part of a recent lesson, the students went to nearby Kedgwick, N.B., where they quickly spotted and successfully bagged a moose.
The lesson doesn't stop there. While some of the students are already familiar with hunting, they are being taught to butcher and completely process the animal. In keeping with their heritage, they are learning to cut steaks, roasts, hamburger, sausage, and jerky, which they will share with the community. The students are also learning to tan the hide and will use the bones for a traditional Mi'kmaw game called Waltes.
Other activities the students learn include things like harvesting medicines, beekeeping and bow-making. Listuguj Educator Jacob Gale told CBC News that the program helps teach kids the Mi'kmaw treaty rights to hunt and fish.
"Sharing those teachings with our students and having them gain that sense of pride for being outside, learning about our culture, learning about their identity ... all those things make a big difference," Gale said. "You can't put that in a textbook."
