Food Sovereignty

Together we harvest, prepare, and share wild foods with respect and gratitude. Our camps teach the safety, ethics, and practical methods of providing for our families—from the hunt to field dressing, hide work, drying and smoking, and safe storage. We practice the responsibility to not over-harvest and to only take what is needed, ensuring abundance for the future.

Stewardship of Secwépemcúl̓ecw

We believe in learning directly from the tmicw (the land). Participants learn through experience and careful observation—how to read tracks, understand the seasons, and identify medicines and foods. This hands-on approach ensures that traditional ecological knowledge is passed on in the environment where it belongs, building practical skills and a deep, personal connection to our territory, Secwepemcúlecw

Healing & Wellness

ime on the land is healing time. Practices are used for cleansing, focus, and prayer, preparing us for our responsibilities. Our teaching circles create safe spaces for connection, laughter, and growth, supporting the mental, physical, and spiritual wellness that comes from being in right relationship with our culture and territory.

Cultural Preservation & Teaching

Our laws and customs (Yerí7 re stsq̓ey̓s kucw) are taught in place—around the fire, on the trail, and in the future Secwepemctsín, the language of the land. Elders and Knowledge Keepers guide all activities, sharing oral histories (stspetékwll) and protocols that have been passed down for thousands of years , ensuring our youth and families carry these teachings home with confidence and pride.

Youth Mentorship

Young people learn shoulder-to-shoulder with Elders, aunties, and uncles, taking on real camp roles and learning by doing. This is how wectswum (train a child) in our ways—practicing language, sharing in the work, and building skills and confidence. Mentors help youth step into safe leadership on the land, preparing them to become the knowledge keepers of tomorrow.

Paths to the Future

The teachings from our camps become the next steps in life. We are building clear pathways for youth to carry their cultural knowledge into livelihoods in guiding, conservation, forestry, health, and community leadership. By connecting youth to mentors and training, we ensure that our culture is the foundation from which our future grows.

Our Journey Together

As a newly formalized society built on over 14 years of grassroots work, we are creating the systems to carry our camp traditions forward for generations.

Here’s how the vision for our camps becomes real.

Building on more than a decade of experience, we continue to sustain our annual, land-based culture camps, which are the heart of our society. These camps are proven, community-trusted spaces for:

• Intergenerational knowledge transfer with Elders.

• Practicing safety, foodways, and stewardship.

• Youth mentorship and family participation.

Now: Our Foundation

With the support of our partners, we are actively expanding our programming and building essential capacity. Our current funded projects directly enhance our camps by allowing us to:

• Document and Preserve Knowledge (FPCC HSP): Respectfully record place-based stories and protocols with Elders to create a community-governed digital archive and curriculum blueprint.

• Build Essential Infrastructure (FPCC BIP): Acquire a mobile toolkit, including a freezer trailer and all-weather shelters, to run safer and more effective camps in every season.

• Expand Hands-On Learning (I-SPARC): Host seasonal workshops on traditional harvesting and preservation while planning for long-term food sovereignty infrastructure.
  
  

• Build Foundational Capacity (REFBC): Strengthen our society’s operational systems for long-term success, supporting the expansion from one annual event to four seasonal camps and enabling our transition from a volunteer-led initiative to a formal, professionally managed organization

Next: Projects in Motion (2025-2026)

Later: The Vision We're Building

Our current projects are the foundation for a resilient, self-determined future. The long-term vision we are working toward includes:

• Year-round programming and a reliable calendar of four distinct seasonal land-based camps.

• A community-managed mobile wild game processing and storage unit to enhance food security and self-reliance.

• A fully realized Secwepemc Hunting Camp Curriculum Blueprint, guided by an Elders' Council, to ensure cultural integrity and continuity.

• Clear pathways for youth into livelihoods rooted in the stewardship of Secwépemcúl̓ecw.

How You Can Walk With Us

Volunteer or Facilitate — Share your skills and time. We rely on community support for cooking, driving, youth mentorship, safety supervision, and camp logistics. Your help is an act of knucwentwécw (helping one another).

Partner With Us — We welcome collaboration with community organizations and local First Nations. Let's work together to host a session, share resources, or co-deliver programming that benefits our people.

Sponsor a Youth — Your contribution can create a fully-equipped spot at a cultural camp for a young person to learn, connect with their heritage, and step into their potential as a future leader