Ojibwe camp at RRCC includes fundamentals of Native culture for future generations to experience
Without teaching the youth of a culture its traditions and ways, that culture is doomed to disappear.
That is the reasoning behind a two-day Ojibwe Immersion Camp, held at Rainy River Community College this week for the first time.
The camp will provide tribal elders, and other knowledgeable adults, the space and time to teach Ojibwe youth and the greater community more about this culture.
“If we don’t teach these kids the little that we know ... it’ll fade away,” said Tommy Mason, after participating in a four-person drum and singing performance that kicked off the camp.
He focused on the Ojibwe youth and said that they are the most important people to learn these lessons, because they will be responsible for passing the information down to the next generation. Without them becoming invested, he said, the culture could disappear.
Participants, some locals and some who had come from other parts of northern Minnesota and neighboring states and Canada, were welcomed with an introduction and ceremony, and then were able to come and go between various activities and displays that were set up for the camp.
“There are no bad teachings, just different ways to learn,” emphasized Stephen Briggs of RRCC, who helped to organize and lead the event. With so many different reservations represented from across the Ojibwe culture, he said there were bound to be differences among the ways of doing things, but the point of the camp was to learn and respect the traditions.
“It’s really an awesome culture,” said Dianne Briggs, also an event organizer. She said that it was important to “bring families and the community together and not lose touch with the culture.”
Among the activities was wigwam building. Four young men started stripping long lengths of locally harvested poplar of its bark using straight-edged knives Tuesday morning for the structure. The wigwam is intended to remain in the yard outside the college’s commons for future study and continued work during the college’s Ojibwe and Anishinaabe language courses.
Other programs scheduled during the two-day event include: learning how to make arrowheads and spearheads; learning from a flint master; drums and music; canoe racing; language lessons and food. There are displays of Native artifacts, games, clothing, and baskets.
The Ojibwe Immersion Camp and its programs are free and open to the public. The camp runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday in the RRCC commons.
