Chief of Driftpile Cree Nation Dwayne Laboucan says this year’s Driftpile Cree Nation hunting camp was about more than bringing home moose meat. It was about keeping people connected to the land, sharing traditional knowledge and making sure Elders and community members who can no longer hunt still receive food from the harvest.

The annual camp, held at Boulder Creek from Sept. 7 to 11, marked its 10th year. The gathering brought Driftpile Cree Nation community members together for several days of camping, harvesting, traditional food preparation and activities involving Elders, youth and students.

Laboucan says the traditional feast took place Sept. 10 and drew about 200 people. Community members were served moose meat and vegetables, while families spent time visiting and taking part in activities throughout the five-day camp.

“It went good,” Laboucan says. “This is our tenth year. We like to harvest moose for our Elders and people who can’t. It’s good to keep people back on the land and remember how things were.”

For Driftpile Cree Nation, the camp is also an opportunity to bring different generations together around traditional harvesting practices.
The involvement of Elders and youth allows knowledge about hunting, preparing food and sharing the harvest to be passed from one generation to the next.
Laboucan says one of the strongest moments for him was seeing community members come out to the camp and spend time on the land together.

Elders helped make dry meat, he says, while others gathered around the fire, played cards and games, and visited throughout the five days of camping.
He says the camp is especially important because the harvest is shared with people who are not able to go out on the land themselves. Elders are a priority, he says, but the food is also for others in the community who may need it.

“We hunt for those who can’t anymore,” Laboucan says. “Elders are always first.”
The event also included youth activities, with the school coming out for two days, Laboucan says.

He says it was important for young people to be part of the gathering because the camp gives them a chance to see harvesting, food preparation and community sharing in practice, rather than only hearing about those traditions.

Laboucan says the camp was an “all-around success,” with no complaints, and the turnout showed the event continues to grow. He says more people have been attending each year, adding to the sense of community participation around the harvest and feast.
He also says he wants more people outside the community to understand what the hunt is — and what it is not.

“We don’t shoot everything in sight,” he says. “We take enough to feed everyone. We try to harvest four to five moose a year and we give it out. I would like people to understand that it’s not just a free-for-all.”

For Laboucan, the gathering is also about memory and continuity. He says bringing people back onto the land helps community members remember how things were done and supports the passing of knowledge between generations.

The traditional feast, dry meat preparation, youth programming and time spent with Elders are all part of that wider purpose. Laboucan’s hope for next year is simple: continue the camp and help it grow.

He says the event has built momentum over the past decade, and he wants to see that participation continue as more families, youth and Elders spend time together on the land.

“A growing turnout and lots of community participation — more and more people are attending each year,” he says.

Sara Driedger
Lakeside Leader