Q and A with Jessica Smith at Indigenous Initiatives

Over the past three summers, Indigenous youth and elders have gathered for the Okotoks Indigenous River Camp, which is collaboratively hosted by Trellis Society, Miskanawah and ARPA.

Camp is set to run again this year from August 9 to 13, so to understand what the camp is all about, we had a conversation with Jessica Smith, a Program Manager and member of our Indigenous Initiatives team.

Q: What is the purpose behind Okotok Indigenous River Camp?

Jessica: “Its purpose is very much around reconnecting to the land and utilizing land base to help reconnect young people to culture and to the relationships with elders.

There's a lot of healing that happens when we're out in nature, and we're reconnecting with Mother Earth. A lot of our young people come with a lot of trauma. Our elders and staff carry a lot of trauma. And so we really try to utilize the land as the opportunity to disconnect from technology, disconnect from the city, and just really reconnect with who we truly are as human beings as stewards of the land."

Q: Where are youth at in their journeys when they come to camp?

Jessica: “We really have quite a range. We have kids who have been coming to our program for years that are really connected to the elders there. We have young people who are just starting their journey to understand their identity of who they are. And then we have sort of everything in between. But regardless of where they are in their journey, they are welcome.”

Q: What activities can campers participate in?

Campers playing a Blackfoot game led by Elder Monica Chiefmoon

Jessica: “We really balance recreation, traditional teachings and ceremony to create lots of cool opportunities. We have young knowledge workers who have learnings about our traditional games like lacrosse and double ball. And then of course, we're going to be doing some identity pieces where we start to learn about nations around this area and share knowledge.

We're also going to have some one-on-one time with the elders and the young people so that they can build that relationship. Our ultimate goal is that our young people develop a sense of cultural independence so that they no longer rely on a third party to connect with culture, and they feel confident enough to reach out to their elders to become oskâpêwisto – helpers.

Just because you weren't raised in your culture doesn't mean that you can't find your culture again. It's really just creating that space for those young people who want to learn.”

Q: How does a focus on healing impact the camp?

Jessica: “The reason we focus heavily on healing and wellness is because unlike other cultures, there isn't a place within the city that Indigenous people can gather to find that connection, find healing, to engage in spirituality. Sadly, when we're talking about Indigenous youth, they're all carrying heavy burdens on their backs. And so, it is paramount that we're able to be there in moments of crisis or retraumatization.

Indigenous people sort of have a unique history from other Canadians. When we talk about colonization, we're really talking about the trauma that has been endured by Indigenous people — residential school, Sixties Scoop, current issues around addictions, homelessness and poverty, missing and murdered Indigenous women, higher rates of crime and involvement in the justice system.

So in everything that we do, we incorporate aspects of healing and spirituality and reconnection, and it's not in a way of taking the kids out there and doing counseling sessions the whole time. Healing happens in so many ways here. Healing happens in learning your identity. It happens in building relationships, physical activity, creative expression, all of that.”

Q: What do you think makes this camp unique?

Jessica: “Elders will just support the youth where they're at, and vice versa. The expectation is that there is reciprocity in all of our relationships. So just as much as we're there for the youth, the youth are there for us.

There's this deeper connection than just an agency running a program. I think that's what distinguishes some of the work that we do is that we really shift from a Western model of service to an Indigenous approach to wellness. And that really looks like kinship. It looks like connection. “

Group photo on Day 3 at the Okotok Indigenous Culture Camp 2020

What youth said about their camp experience

“Coming to camp has aligned me with the Elders and the teachings. Being in foster care since I was very young, I have never had an opportunity like this one before. Five days with so many Elders – hearing the traditional stories and language. I needed this.”
“I’m so grateful for this opportunity. When I was younger, I didn’t have this connection to culture and it so rewarding to learn among other young people who are in a similar situation. To see this spark and love for the culture has changed my life.”
”All the people here feel like my family – my aunties, cousins, grandmas, grandpas. To get away from the city and connect with nature keeps my heart beating. And every time I’m part of an opportunity like this, the most incredible part is to see the lives transform through the connection to land and connection to ceremony.”

If you would like to learn more or attend Okotoks Indigenous River Camp, contact:

Gabby Taylor: gtaylor@growwithtrellis.ca | 403.988.1706

Erin Mingay – emingay@growwithtrellis.ca | 403.606.2922

An inside look at Okotok Indigenous River Camp