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Now in its fourth year, the Take a Family on the Land program once again promises to offset the cost of land-based experiences so more NWT families can participate.
In its first three years, the territorial program supported activities like snare sighting, game processing and canoeing, said Frank McKay, the Indigenous community engagement coordinator at the Department of Environment and Climate Change’s on-the-land unit.
“You can’t put a cost to the health benefits of being out in the bush, the fresh air from all the rich carbon of the trees … drinking fresh water from our lake. Those types of activities where it encourages good behaviour,” McKay said.
“We function better as a society when we’re doing things together on the land and in the water.”
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As in previous years, individuals aren’t able to apply. Instead, any Indigenous government, Indigenous organization, community government or not-for-profit association in the NWT can apply for funding.
Last year, McKay said, the unit approved 20 programs. Some received the maximum available funding of $10,000 and some less than that.
One of the program’s benefits, McKay said, is “it allows some of the youth to be away from the internet and just concentrate and enjoy the outdoors, while they’re on the land, participating in these activities.”
McKay also likes the knowledge transfer built into the program as Elders share knowledge with the youth.
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“That could include Elders talking about traditional place names and Indigenous language, storytelling, cultural teaching,” McKay said.
“I see it as a benefit for the community, benefit to the North, and benefit to society in general where we’re having great knowledge transfer, maintaining our culture, and also being open to what’s available in the future.
“We’re never too young or too old to learn old or new things.”
The program isn’t restricted to nuclear families, McKay said. It includes LGBTQ1A2S+ families, single-parent families, multigenerational families and more.
Applications are due by 5pm on June 22. Potential applicants can learn more on the GNWT’s website.
