The Tahltan cultural and literacy camp is a place where Tahltan youth learn essential Tahltan language, knowledge, and cultural practices. The camps are run in the summer months in the communities of Telegraph Creek and Iskut and provide a great opportunity for children to connect with Elders and other teachers about their culture and Tahltan language. The camps are the result of a collaboration between Galore Creek, Tahltan Band, and Iskut Valley Health Services, and funding contributions come from Galore Creek and several other local mining companies.
In the camps, morning reading and lessons are generally followed by field activities such as hiking, working at the fish nets, practicing the Tahltan language, and berry picking at the Tahltan blueberry camp. The Telegraph Creek camp is held during the fishing season in July so the children can learn how to pull fish from nets and clean, prepare and can the salmon for the winter.
Galore Creek last attended the Culture Camp in 2019 and were excited when Tahltan reached out to invite us to spend a day with the Elders, teachers and youth at the camp. Gabe Jutras (Director for Social, Environmental, and Regulatory Affairs) attended this year’s camp in July where he hosted a rock and geology session with a group of kids who talked about their pet rocks and studied river rocks on the banks of the Stikine River.
This short film produced about the camp in 2019 perfectly illustrates its value to youth, and how it’s a great opportunity to continue to share culture and continue to revitalize the Tahltan language.
Embed: Tahltan produced video, Cultural & Literacy Camp 2019.
https://youtu.be/w1TVVe8A-9g
Or on TCG site: https://tahltan.org/cultural-literacy-camp/