On the land language immersion camps have given Gwich’in children and adults grounding in traditional skills as well as the Gwich’in language. The camps feature fluent Gwich’in speakers, who explain traditional skills and interact with the attendees in the Gwich’in language. They are located far from town life where English is the predominant language.
Between 1995 and 2001, Gwich’in Science Camps were offered to senior high school students to give them the opportunity to learn Gwich’in traditional knowledge and western scientific knowledge while living on the land. These ten day camps allowed students to earn school credits, working with Gwich’in Elders and professionals in the fields of biology, geography and anthropology, and learning about the area’s natural and human history.
