Ida sat in the green grass, a small knife in hand, assessing the pink salmon laid out in front of her. She placed it on a small board she had found by the riverside. Nearby, Kawerak Wellness Director Kim Ayek watched and shared that she usually starts by cutting off the head.
“I was thinking that, too. I remember most of how my mom taught me,” Ida said.
Ida began cutting the fish as Kim looked on, offering pointers. Camp Igaliq, Kawerak’s wellness camp for high school-aged youth, had taken campers to the Solomon River for an afternoon of fishing. Ida said opportunities like this were one of the reasons she applied to attend.
“I wanted to come to camp for new experiences, like leadership and cultural activities, similar to this,” Ida shared.
From Wales, Ida was one of more than 40 students who applied for this year’s camp, held at Norton Sound Health Corporation’s Camp Nuuk on Safety Sound. With space for only 20 participants, not all who applied could attend. Bobby Koezuna, Camp Igaliq organizer with Kawerak’s Wellness Department, said this year’s group included youth from Brevig Mission, Shishmaref, Stebbins, Elim, Savoonga, Koyuk, and Wales.
Each summer, Camp Igaliq brings together youth from across the Bering Strait region for five days to focus on building a positive vision for themselves, their communities, and their futures. Elders and guest presenters share knowledge about the land, cultural skills and traditions, education and employment opportunities, suicide prevention, healthy relationships, and overall wellness.
This year, campers participated in Inupiaq language lessons with Kiminaq Maddy Agviaq, salve-making with NSHC Tribal Healer Etta Tall, fishing, talking circles, outdoor games, and plenty of time to socialize.
For Lucas Penayah, one of the best parts of Camp Igaliq was spending time with friends. Well, that and the fishing. From Savoonga, Lucas said he knew many of the other campers and appreciated the opportunity to hang out with them.
“I enjoy the chance to feel more connected with friends and close cousins,” Lucas shared.
While social time is an important part of the camp experience, Bobby said a great deal of planning goes into organizing Camp Igaliq to make it fun but also a place to learn valuable life and cultural skills. Preparation begins about six months in advance to ensure there’s time for ordering and shipping supplies, coordinating activities, and scheduling presenters during the busy summer subsistence season.
The goal, he said, is to help youth become comfortable outdoors while building excitement around cultural activities. And he hopes the skills they practice and things they learn will stick with them and they’ll be able to continue to utilize in the future.
“We try to reach them while they’re still young and teach them skills they can carry forward. Hopefully they can get their own supplies and continue doing these activities with friends and family back home,” Bobby said.
One of the highlights of this year’s camp was the salve-making workshop with NSHC Tribal Healer Etta Tall. Bobby said the kids were really engaged in learning about local medicinal plants, when and how to harvest them, and the benefits they provide.
Seeing the youth participate in activities with enthusiasm made all the preparation worth the effort.
“It feels very rewarding to see the campers happy, laughing, and enjoying being kids at camp with their cousins and the new friends they’ll have for life,” he said.
Back at the riverside, Ida continued working on her fish as it slipped around on her makeshift cutting board. With only one more night of camp remaining, she reflected on this year’s experience.
“It can be challenging, but fun at the same time,” Ida said.
For Ida, the opportunity to learn new skills, spend time outdoors, and connect with other youth from across the region made the experience worthwhile.
As the fishing trip came to an end, campers and staff packed up their gear and headed back to Camp Nuuk. There, they prepared for their return home the following morning, taking with them new experiences, new friendships, and deeper cultural connections.
Interested in attending or encouraging a young person to apply to Camp Igaliq? Watch for applications at the end of next school year and stay tuned to Kawerak’s Wellness page at www.kawerak.org/wellness.
