In Fort Vermilion, a group of youth and their families will return to the land—a place of learning, connection, and belonging. With guidance from Elders, artists, and knowledge keepers, they will come together to share in teachings that have been passed down through generations. Over their time together, they’ll learn the joy of playing and listening to fiddle music, the skill of traditional crafts, and the meaning behind raising a tipi—a practice rich in care, respect, and ceremony.
This journey doesn’t begin with the camp itself. In the spring, the youth will gather for pre-camps to help prepare the land and the space, honouring the teaching that good things take time, and that showing up with intention matters. When they return for the full gathering, they’ll be ready to focus deeply on what the land, the community, and their teachers have to offer.
As a way of marking their time together, the youth will create artwork to adorn the tipi—a visual memory of their learning, laughter, and connection. That tipi will remain on the land, standing as a gift to the community—a place where others can gather, learn, and begin their own journey of healing and remembering.