The Spiritual World

Students will:

• Know that fire is a gift from the Creator that has enabled the survival of the Dene. Fire did not come from the earth. Fire has great power because it comes from the sun. It can only be controlled with great power. (K-6)
• Fire is a living force which has declared that all men will live and survive with it till the end of time. To show our respect to the gift of life, we pay the fire. (K-6)
• People with lightning or the sun medicine can start fires. (3-6)
• Fire can give the gift of health. (K-6)
• Fire appreciates the person who restores life to it. It will prolong the life of the person who lights it early in the morning because it is a hungry person and likes to be lit early. A fire can never be filled. It has been fed since the beginning of time. (2-6)
• The first smoke of a fire that is lit is the strongest. This is a gift from the fire and should be put in your hair. (2-6)
• Experience using fire to predict the arrival of visitors by trying what was done in the past: by placing a knotted caribou shoe lace into the fire and seeing the distance it shoots. (2-4)
• Be familiar with protocol respecting fire: (2-5)
  • Don't stare into a fire.
  • During first menses, a woman should touch wood with gloved hands only when feeding fire; otherwise, as she gets older, her hand will take on the appearance of wood (bark).

Experiences:

• Hear and tell stories about origins of fire. (K-6)
• "Lightning that Touched the Earth".
• Hear and tell stories about fire. (K-6)
  • "How Fire Melted the Snowman" (Johnny Neyelle).
  • How a man surrounded by fire who prays and changes the direction of wind causing rain to fall.
  • How a man kept fires going for two weeks when out of flint.
• Listen to and appreciate the sound of fire. (K-6)
• Feed fire. (K-6)
• Practice fire ceremonies and obey rules. (K-6)
• Have students fan themselves with the first smoke of a fire. (K-6)
• Use of fire to predict when people will arrive. (3-4)

The Land

Students will:

• Know the importance of taking matches and an axe or knife when going into the bush. (2-6)
• Be able to start a campfire and keep it going.
  • Know where to place a campfire. (2-6)
  • Identify good kindling for starting a fire. (K-3)
  • Know where to light the fire. (2-4)
  • Identify and know where to find good firewood. (2-5)
  • Maintain constant heat. (5-6)
  • In summer and in winter. (5-6)
• Know how to heat a tipi safely. (5-6)
• Know the different kinds of fire and fire wood for different purposes: (4-6)
  • warmth
  • cooking
  • smoking meat
  • tanning hides
  • sacred fire
  • ceremonial fire (death)
• Know how to clean up campfire before leaving camp. (3-6)
  • Disposing of animal bones.
  • Burning all remains including hair and nails.
  • Making sure fire is out.
• Know how to make fire on the barrenlands. (5-6)
  • Use bones for fuel.
  • Bundle willows so they last longer.
  • Pack wood.
• Know how to prevent unwanted fires. (K-4)
  • Know the danger of fire, and fire prevention.
  • Know about forest fires.
• Know how Dene traditionally started a fire without matches. Know how to start a fire in the bush without matches. (4-6)
  • White stone and birch gum.
  • Birch bark fungus and containers for carrying.
• Know how to clean stoves and stove pipes. (5-6)
• Know the uses of campfire ashes. (4-6)
  • May be useful medicine: e.g. healing cold sores.
  • To clean metal.
  • Charcoal to leave messages.

Experiences:

• Make a campfire.
  • Find a good location for a campfire. (K-6)
  • Gather proper kindling for starting a fire. (K-3)
  • Gather firewood for different purposes. (K-5)
  • Light fire and follow the steps to keep it going. (2-6)
  • Maintain constant heat. (5-6)
  • Follow steps to clean up fire before leaving camp. (K-6)
• Find materials to make fires for different purposes. (4-6)
• Collect birch bark fungus and use it to light a campfire. (5-6)
• Research from elders where flint can be found and practice lighting fires without matches. (6)
• Use fires for heating and cooking. (K-6)
  • Make tea.
  • Cook bannock.
  • Cook meat.
  • Heatistones.
• Clean up campfire before leaving camp. (3-6)
• Make fire on the barrenlands. (5-6)
• Clean stoves and stove pipes. (5-6)
• Use campfire ashes to:
  • Clean metal. (4-6)
  • Use charcoal as marker to write and draw. (K-3)

The People

Students will:

• Know that at a camp, everyone has responsibilities. It is the responsibility of the children to gather good firewood as required for different purposes. (K-6)
• Know that campsites are always left with wood and kindling for the use of the next traveller. (K-6)

Experiences:

• When leaving a campsite, have students leave kindling and wood for the next traveller. (K-6)

The Self

Students will:

• Know the importance for each individual to be self-reliant when it comes to surviving in the bush: (2-6)
• To plan ahead and take what is required to start a fire if necessary.
• To learn the skills for starting a fire.

Experiences:

• Reflect on the feel and sounds of a campfire and how it makes you feel. (K-6)
• Make personal commitments to being self-reliant and prepared when going onto the land. (2-6)