The Seventh Generation Culture Camps - Youth Leaders

A glimpse into the transformative teachings, traditions, and land stewardship practices of the Seventh Generation Culture Camps, led by Indigenous youth and Elders.
Synopsis
The Seventh Generation Culture Camp was an extraordinary implementation of a Two-Eyed Seeing approach using land based therapies such as a culture camp to work with the indigenous youth from the four communities of Elsipogtog, Indian Island, Buctouche and Fort Folly. The idea behind the Seventh Generation Culture Camp came about from the Elders during one of their gatherings in 2021 organized by the Oeliangitasoltogo Mental Wellness Team. The model used in this cultural camp was based on the Reclaiming Our Ancestral Footsteps, one of 6 national demonstration projects on mental health promotion for Aboriginal youth that operated between 2008 to 2012. Several of these Elders in the gathering were involved in the Ancestral Footsteps initiative which used a series of cultural camps that provided indigenous youth an opportunity to learn about Wabanaki culture, language and traditions.
A Planning Committee of community members and partners was formed to make this week long camp a reality in August 2022. The Seventh Generation is a series of cultural camps to develop a path to self sufficiency and self-determination for Mi’kmaq youth that preserves and builds on their cultural heritage and sustains it meaningfully for future generations. The video will document this process so that other communities can learn about the best practices and lessons learned in such culture camps using culture as foundation.