“It's not being ‘on-the-land,’ it's like we are a part of the Land”: Indigenous youth share visual stories at “on-the-land” camps in the Dehcho

Abstract

In northern Canada, Indigenous Peoples face rapid environmental and sociocultural changes that disrupt access to traditional places and practices. This disruption limits cross-generational knowledge transfer and decreases opportunities for youth to connect with the Land. Land-based education programs aim to provide Indigenous youth with spaces to learn about and connect with the Land, their language, and culture. However, there is limited research on what youth experience, enjoy, and learn during these programs. Our paper explores this through a study with Dene and Métis youth in the Dehcho region of the Northwest Territories. We investigate what youth experience and learn during “on-the-land” camps and how these camps provide spaces for youth to connect with the Land. Using a community-based, Indigenous research methodology, we employed photovoice, allowing youth to share visual stories of their camp experiences and their (re)connection with the Land. Our results are categorized into three themes: (1) connections with the Land; (2) enjoyment of the camp environment; and (3) land-based learning. We argue that land-based education programs, such as on-the-land camps, are effective for fostering relationships between Indigenous youth and the Land. These camps teach youth various ways to connect with and protect the Land for future generations.