KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
Afognak Island coastline. Via Wikipedia
Kayla Desroches/KMXT
A cultural education camp for youth starts up on Afognak Island this Friday. Dig Afognak gives Native Alaskan children from ages 9 to 14 the chance to participate in four themes over four weeks.
Melissa Borton is the tribal administrator for the Native Village of Afognak and says this coming week is harvesting / earth camp.
“We teach kids how to harvest our local resources – fish, seal – we have a cultural education permit to take deer out of season, we harvest plants, we go tide pooling for octopus,” says Borton. “And then we also teach not over-harvesting resources, taking care of the land so that it continues to produce those types of things.”
She says the second week is survivor camp.
“To us it’s important to have that one because of where we live,” says Borton. “It’s a reality that our kids could grow up, or even as kids, be put in a situation where some wilderness survival or ocean survival techniques are a necessity. So, we started the survivor camp several years ago and it’s a lot of fun, but it’s also good lessons and things that we want our kids to learn.”
Following that are the Afognak Native Corporation Shareholder Camp for youth and adults and the language immersion camp combined with music learning. Borton says the camp used to be six weeks and 100 percent tent-based.
“We’re actually in the process of building our final building, which is the largest, and it’s the mess hall, and the kitchen and all of that. So, while we’ve been doing construction and the funding that is involved with doing the construction, we’ve reduced our camps to four weeks. Once all construction is done, we’re hoping if we can keep it funded at the same level we’ll increase back to six weeks of camp,” says Borton.
There is a $100 fee for tribal members and $200 for non-members.
Nina Gronn is 22 and works for the Native Village of Afognak. She says she’s been involved with the camp for a few years and, besides the community and the connection with Native culture, she says it’s an escape and an experience.
“You’re away from reality, you’re away from that technology, that always constantly having that cell phone or turning on the TV. You’re just out there, enjoying nature,” says Gronn. “Everybody gets up and comes in for breakfast, and you’re happy and enjoying the view out there whether it’s raining or sunshining.”
Dig Afognak accepts donations of money and camp-related items like bunk beds, generators, chainsaws, as well as miscellaneous lumber. Whether you’d like to donate or join the waitlist, you can call 907-486-6357 or email nancy@afognak.org.
