Looking Back and Ahead at Camp Koko'sinooniks

The gathering, known wholly as Camp Koko’sinooniks, begins every weekday morning at the Niitsitapi Learning Centre and at Bowcroft Elementary. A grass-roots culture program, the name of the camp translates as All Our Children, and was spurred by efforts at reconciliation for the horrors suffered at residential schools.

“The program runs for five weeks, with 25 children, ages 6 to 12,” says Nick Gonsalvez, a social programs services coordinator for The City’s Neighbourhood Services. To prepare for the program, City staff underwent Intergenerational Trauma and Indigenous Mental Health training, Traditional Games training, Smudge teachings, and Elder Protocol, as well as The City of Calgary’s Code 86 mandatory training. The camp’s design and delivery has been a collective effort between the Calgary Board of Education, The City of Calgary (Calgary Neighbourhoods), Pathways Community Services, Sodexo Canada, Canadian Tire Jumpstart, Tummy Tamers and I Can for Kids.

With the aim to develop an understanding of the diverse First Nations, Cree, Blackfoot, Métis and Inuit histories, cultures, contributions and ways of knowing, some campers are also educating their parents as a result of the program. One mother commented that her children were taught how to build traditional drums, and they plan to pass along their newfound knowledge.

In addition to drum making, children listen to Elders who share traditional stories, participate in traditional medicine picking, set up a traditional tipi, take part in daily Smudge and create various crafts around Indigenous teachings.

Such teachings have helped build resilience in at least one of the young campers, whose history has been marked by ongoing health issues. One girl, who was too shy to speak in a group environment, and dependent on feeding tubes for most of her young life, spoke during circle at Smudge for the first time and ate solid food as part of the free lunch program -- sponsored by Sodexo.

The final day of camp is August 9, but the program will continue in September as a City of Calgary program at Niitsitapi Learning Centre and Bowcroft Elementary. For more information on The City of Calgary’s free summer or AfterSchool programs, please visit Calgary.ca/free or Calgary.ca/afterschool