Janis Ottawa
September 13, 2024Goals: Sugar season has existed for a very long time. When spring comes, the Atikamekw communities prepare for the Sugar season. For our youth, it is a moment of reconnection with the land, and they learn how to prepare maple syrup, sweet bread and maple taffy. During this activity, the youth learn about its history and how maple water was discovered as well as our Atikamekw legends and anecdotes regarding the Sugar season.
Age Group : kindergarten to high school, including community members.
Description : Each year, the youth from both schools (primary and secondary) are invited to participate in a camp out on the land, near the community to learn about our Sugar season. On this day, the facilitators (generally an Elder or community-designated person) invite the youth to collect the maple water (sap), and they tell stories about each step of the process, teaching about its important uses, about how to maintain a fire, and how long to boil the maple water. Naturally, the youth return every year, and their perception evolves as they develop a tighter bond with the land. This activity goes beyond teaching about the Sugar season itself, as it raises awareness about the integrity of our ancestral territory and its protection.