Culture Camp 2020
To say that 2020 has been a strange year would be an understatement. Many of us are facing our first global pandemic, most students went on spring break only to find out they couldn’t physically return to school, and organizations that put on summer programs for youth have found it difficult to plan for summer programs in these uncertain times.
The Qagan Tayagungin Tribe has resisted making the call to formally cancel our in person culture camp in Sand Point. With camp scheduled for late July/early August, we felt we had time to consider our options. While the State of Alaska’s plan to open greatly opened doors for business and removed many state mandated restricts, it also indicated it is now upon businesses and organizations to minimize the spread of COVID-19.
Social distancing has worked for our communities up to now, and there haven’t been any confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Sand Point. This is how social distancing is supposed to work, by not having confirmed cases, we’re doing things right. Not having any confirmed cases is not an indication the precautions we’ve taken have been for naught, or an overreaction. With more people coming into our communities for the fishing industry, it is even more critical as individuals, we all take care to socially distance ourselves, practice good hygiene, and take care of each other, especially those most vulnerable to this virus.
In order to best do this, the Tribe has referred to the Center for Disease Control for its guidance on operating Day Camps. With the status of things changing day by day, we know by the time July arrives, CDC guidance will likely look different than it does today. However, in order to provide at least some cultural programing to our youth, we need to make decisions now so we can budget, plan, and move forward, and first and foremost, keep our youth safe and healthy.
When we take into consideration the various accommodations the Tribe would have to make in order to follow current CDC guidelines as they are written today, and keep our youth safe, it is with a heavy heart we are now announcing we are cancelling the in person 2020 Sand Point Culture Camp put on by the Qagan Tayagungin Tribe. That said, we are continuing with plans to provide some cultural education for youth this summer!
The Qagan Tayagungin Tribe will be putting together “QTT Culture Camp in a Can” kits for youth. These kits will have a variety of material in them to help continue cultural education for our youth, including but not limited to: links to language tools, videos to help support culture lessons, tools to help youth in traditional foods activities, recipes utilizing traditional foods, and materials and instructions to complete crafts. Kits will be limited, and will be only provided to those located in Sand Point. Please complete the online interest form located here, as soon as possible if you would like a kit for your child/children.
Thank you for all of your continued support of our culture camp. While we’re disappointed to lose the in person experience, especially when we had already confirmed new instructors to bring new skills to camp this year (don’t worry, instructors understand and have said they’ll come in the future). We look forward to continue serving our youth in the safest way possible this year, and coming back even stronger next year. Qa}aasakung.