Lands, Resources & Treaty Rights
Strengthening Our Culture
Nádóthéé déhzéh kuégóa (Snake River Cabin)
The Snake River crossing cabin site is an off the grid, safe and accessible site built and used by the FNFN for on the land activities, including harvesting and hunting camps, Land Guardian base camp, and culture and language camps for FNFN members and Chalo students. The cabin is also available by reservation for individual members and families to spend some time on the land doing cultural activities on their own.
The original 16’x20’ wheelchair accessible cabin was built in 2013 and designed to house elders and families comfortably and safely throughout the year. It is equipped with low rise bed frames, wood stove and wood, table and chairs, and two outhouses. In addition to the cabin, the site is equipped with tent platforms to hold 2 large wall tents complete with woodstoves. The site was chosen through a 2010 cultural land use study, in which elders identified the site as an historic boat launch where people would disembark on journeys down river to other village sites including Old Fort, Deer River, Snake River, Nelson Forks and Tligoche. Today, the site is on an FNFN-owned trapline and a day trip from FNFN’s main reserve.
In 2020, the FNFN Lands team took advantage of the inability to gather and the COVID restrictions, which effectively shut down any community use of the cabin to expand it for future gatherings. Through this expansion project, the FNFN Lands team got a chance to work alongside two of the best and most experienced carpenters in Fort Nelson, Erwin Dickie and Jim Burke. FNFN Culture Coordinator, Curtis Dickie designed the drawings and the layout of the cabin and the FNFN Land Guardians and summer students all worked hard to complete the expansion in record time.
Some of the positive outcomes from the expansion of this cabin have been the intergenerational knowledge transferred from the two lead FNFN carpenters to the next generation. During our time working alongside them, we heard stories of the cabins they built around the north and the challenges they faced when working in extremely remote locations. They also showed tremendous patience with the FNFN summer students who worked with us throughout the project. We employed up to 6 summer students to help move material, clean the site, and finish various carpentry tasks during the different stages of construction. The crew learned a lot on this project, which will help in the future when the FNFN decides to build more cabins on the land.
The expansion created comfortable meeting space inside complete with wood stove and furniture and re-configured the outside meeting spaces to accommodate better outdoor gathering. The project expanded the existing cabin by 480 sq. ft. and includes a 544 sq. ft. wrap around deck space and a glass front wood stove. We also upgraded the trails to the cabin and the nearby fishing hole. This cabin is now a restful and beautiful place for FNFN to enjoy for many years to come.
Dene Nahttha/Nêhiyaw ?ená Kų́e Gosédehdįhį (Chalo Trades Centre Renovation)
In 2023, the FNFN Lands and Public Works Departments completed renovations to the Chalo adult trades centre to create a Cultural Education space. We replaced the roof and siding and installed a meat cooler, sink and meat processing facilities. These new facilities help us carry on our culture of sharing and taking care of our elders by creating a safe and accessible space for hunters and the Conservation Officer to drop off meat for processing and redistribution to elders, vulnerable families and FNFN wellness programs. The cooler and meat cutting area will be open for community use summer 2023. The new expanded space also includes ground floor offices, accessible washrooms and outdoor moosehide and drymeat processing facilities.
The FNFN Culture Department is now housed in the cultural education centre and hosts learning and teaching opportunities for sewing, fur and hide processing, meat processing, trap-box and tool making skills, as well as providing space for ceremonial gatherings, including drum and dance groups.
This project is funded by the First Peoples’ Culture Council Indigenous Cultural Heritage Infrastructure Grant and the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund.
Learning to be on the Land
In 2023, the FNFN Lands and Public Works Departments completed renovations to the Chalo adult trades centre to create a Cultural Education space. We replaced the roof and siding and installed a meat cooler, sink and meat processing facilities. These new facilities help us carry on our culture of sharing and taking care of our elders by creating a safe and accessible space for hunters and the Conservation Officer to drop off meat for processing and redistribution to elders, vulnerable families and FNFN wellness programs. The cooler and meat cutting area will be open for community use summer 2023. The new expanded space also includes ground floor offices, accessible washrooms and outdoor moosehide and drymeat processing facilities.
The FNFN Culture Department is now housed in the cultural education centre and hosts learning and teaching opportunities for sewing, fur and hide processing, meat processing, trap-box and tool making skills, as well as providing space for ceremonial gatherings, including drum and dance groups.
This project is funded by the First Peoples’ Culture Council Indigenous Cultural Heritage Infrastructure Grant and the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund.
Community News & Updates
For up-to-date news and information on programs, please see the Fort Nelson First Nation Facebook Page.
Dene Nahttha / Nêhiyaw ?ená Kų́e Gosédehdįhį (Dene/Cree House of Teaching) Pronunciation
To hear the pronunciation of the name of the new Trades and Cultural Education Centre, press the play button below.
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