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22TuesdayJune172014AboriginalDayTheTownofFortSmithwouldliketoacknowledgeallmembersoftheAboriginalcommunitywhomakeourTownwhole.InRecognitionofLutselKetraditionskeptalivewithtanningcampByMARIACHURCHAgroupoflearnersinLut-selKegotatasteofjusthowhardtheirancestorsworkedtoclothethemselvesatarst-timetraditionalmoosehidetanningcamplastweek.WhenImdoingmoosehidetanningIoftenthinkyeahImdoingoneitssohardbutwhatifIhadtodo10justtomakesurethatmyfamilyhadtheclothingthattheyneededtostaywarmsaidStephaniePooleacommunitymemberinLutselKewhoparticipatedinthetanningcamp.Itgivesyouarealappreciationforalloftheworkthatourancestorsdid.Around10to15peopletookpartinthe10-daycampsomeofwhomslepton-sitewhileotherstrekkedouttothecampsiteeachdaylocatednearthetownsiteattheoutlettoStarkLakeriver.WithcarefuldirectionfromLutselKeeldersparticipantsspenthourseachdaytan-ningthehideswhichwerenotlimitedtomoosebutin-cludedcariboubeaverandwolverineaswell.TheamountoftimeneededtotaneachhidedependsontheanimalandthescheduleofthetannerPoolesaid.Ifyouworkoryouhaveayoungfamilyyoumightnothaveasmuchtimeasanelderbutfrommyexperienceatthiscampwhenwerefo-cusedandwehaveacampandwereworkingonjustthatitgoesbyprettyquickshesaid.Thecampistherstofitskindinthecommunityandwasamuch-neededwayforthemembersoftheLutselKeDeneFirstNationtokeeptheiruniqueculturalpracticesalivePoolesaidastraditionaltanningisdonedifferentlyineachcultureandeachcommunity.EnsuringthatthewaytheLutselKeDenedoitcon-tinuesisimportanttousPoolesaid.ThecampalsosawseveralpeoplefromoutsideofthecommunityjoinintolearntheLutselKeartoftanningorsimplyobservethetradi-tionalpractice.WeupholdthePeaceandFriendshipTreatysoitsim-portantforustoensurethatourtreatypartnersunder-standourcultureandwayoflifeanddeveloparespectforitaswellPoolesaid.Speakingasanartisther-selflearninghowdifculttraditionaltanningreallyishasalsogivenherarst-handunderstandingofthevalueofthecraft.Ioftenndthatpeoplecanbecriticalofthetraditionally-madeclothingthinkingithasahighpriceandIthinkitsgoodforthemtounderstandwhyitslikethat.Alloftheworkthatgoesintotanningthesehidesandmakinganishedproductthatssobeautifulitsprobablyworthalotmorethantheyarepayingforshesaid.Withsomanyoffshootben-etscomingfromthemoose-hidetanningcampPoolesaiditslikelytobecomeanan-nualeventinthecommunity.FromleftRebeccaWhitneyStephaniePooleandVeronicaMarloweworktogethertoscrapeamoosehideata10-daytraditionaltanningcampheldinLutselKelastweek.PhotoHannaCatholiqueMinesbattleitoutinnameofsafetyThe57thannualMineRescueCompetitionattractedteamsfromthethreeNWTdiamondminesEkatiDiavikandSnapLakeandYukonsMintocopperminetocompeteinYel-lowknifeovertheweekend.SquadsofsixrstrespondersspenthundredsofhourstrainingfortherealthingattheirownmineswhilethecompetitionsponsoredbytheNWTNunavutWorkersSafetyandCompensationCommissionteststheirskillsinrigoroustrialsinclud-ingsimulatedundergroundrescueandveryrealisticrstaidsituations.Shownherearehottestswheretwo-personteamsattempttoextinguishfuel-redblazes.ThisyearswinnersinboththeundergroundandsurfacecategorieswerethetwoteamsfromtheEkatiMineenti-tlingthemtorepresenttheNorthattheNationalWesternRegionalMineRescueCompetitioninFernieB.C.AteamofobserversfromNunavutsBafnlandIronMinewhichwillstartproductionlaterthisyearwastheretoprepareforenteringtheirownteaminthefuture.PhotoBillBradenArtsCultureTraditionalArts