Descendants of Felix George and his siblings challenged themselves to come together to share knowledge, skills and information as part of their Winter Wellness Challenge. The aim of the challenge was to get as many extended family members in and around Prince George to exercise their hunting and preserving skills.
Hunting took place on their traditional Wet’suwet’en territory as well as on the traditional territory of the Lheidli Tenneh People. Throughout the hunting trips they discussed their family’s territory and introduced many of the traditional trails. While doing this they would also be sharing information about their traditions and hunting areas shared by their ancestors. A focus would also be put on self-governance, traditional clans and feast systems.
The first step was to organize and gather interest for the challenge. A presentation evening was held, to which 21 descendants attended. Topics such as regalia, territories, language, types of feasts, genealogy, and laws were discussed with many showing interest.
During one of the hunting trips they were successful in getting a moose. This enabled the traditional method of butchering to be demonstrated and family members learned the proper handling of the moose meat and how to preserve it through smoking, drying and canning.
Almost every part of the moose is used. The heart, tongue, liver, kidneys, tripe and the nose were taken and distributed to family members. The ribs and meat along the backbone and neck, as tradition dictates, is given to the nephews that carried most of the moose out of the brush. The hide is being donated to an Elder for use in tanning
Their shared experience is based on the recognition of their very basic nature and self-governance, their extended family system and how they have thrived for centuries surrounded by their traditional clan and feast system. This knowledge was passed on to other extended family members.
The Felix George extended family is now planning a Gathering to be held in August 2015 in Prince George to explain their experience in this challenge and to share the teachings that were learnt and to encourage all to continue what they have learned and to pass the knowledge on to others. Overall success of the challenge is measured in the knowledge that was passed on. Many cultural aspects were covered and this allowed for many interesting conversations between everyone from youth to Elders about history and tradition.