Hunt Camp: Keeping Our Traditions

Every fall, when the air turns crisp and the leaves start turning all those bright reds and golds, my family and I head out to the bush. It’s that time of year when the land calls us back. The hunt isn’t just about bringing home deer or moose—it’s about reconnecting to who we are, to the land, the animals, and the teachings our ancestors passed down to us.

Respecting Our Animal Relatives

We were taught that the animals are our relatives. They give their lives so we can continue ours, and for that, we always show respect. Before we hunt, we offer tobacco and say a prayer to the Creator, thanking the animal’s spirit for its gift. Nothing goes to waste—the meat feeds our families, the hide becomes clothing or drums, and the bones are used for tools or teachings. To waste any part would be to disrespect that sacred life.

These teachings remind us that everything is connected. When we take from the land, we must also give back—whether that’s through prayer, offering, or by taking care of the land itself. That balance keeps our spirits and our world in harmony.

Learning from Our Elders

Out in the bush, the Elders are our greatest teachers. They show us how to track, how to move quietly, and how to listen to the forest. But they also teach the deeper lessons—patience, respect, and gratitude. The forest has its own language if you’re willing to listen.

When the Elders speak in our languages, we learn more than words—we learn our connection to the land, the animals, and the seasons. Those words carry our stories and our ways of seeing the world. Learning to hunt the traditional way is really learning who we are as a people.

Reclaiming Our Way of Life

There was a time when our people weren’t allowed to hunt freely. The government made laws that tried to separate us from our land and our ways. But we are still here, and our teachings are still alive. Today, many of our communities are bringing back those traditions. We organize community hunts and share the meat with Elders and families who need it.

These hunts are about much more than food—they are about healing, pride, and cultural strength. They remind us that our ways have power. When our young people join the hunt, they connect to their roots and feel that sense of belonging that our ancestors always knew.

Healthy Food, Healthy Spirit

Wild meat—deer, moose, whatever the land provides—is real food. It keeps our bodies strong and our spirits clear. There’s something sacred about being out there in the quiet, watching the sun rise through the trees, feeling the wind on your face. That’s medicine too.

When we hunt, we remember that food is sacred. It comes from the land, and the land is alive. We must always care for the land that feeds us, because it’s part of us.

Keeping the Fire Burning

Each fall, when we head back into the bush, we carry our ancestors with us. We walk the same trails, speak the same prayers, and pass on the same teachings to the next generation. Hunting is not just about the meat—it’s about respect, learning, and love for the land.

When our young ones take part, they’re not just hunting—they’re keeping our culture alive. They’re learning what it means to be part of our people, connected to everything around us. And as long as we keep those teachings alive, our ways will never be lost.

3-Fires Training and Camp Management

To keep these traditions strong, 3-Fires Training and Camp Management offers hands-on training and support for communities wanting to organize their own hunt camps. We help you create a safe, well-organized, and meaningful hunting experience that brings everyone together—Elders, youth, and families alike.

Our programs blend traditional knowledge with modern safety and planning techniques. We teach how to prepare the land, manage logistics and resources, and create an inclusive, respectful environment where learning and laughter go hand in hand. Whether your community is hosting its first hunt camp or growing an existing one, 3-Fires can provide the tools, structure, and guidance to make it successful.

A well-run camp strengthens relationships, passes on teachings, and builds pride in who we are. At 3-Fires, we believe every hunt is an opportunity to reconnect with the land, feed the spirit, and celebrate the strength of our people.

If your community is ready to bring back or strengthen your traditional hunt camp, reach out to 3-Fires Training and Camp Management today. Together, we can help you plan, organize, and lead a safe, powerful, and culturally rooted experience that honors our ancestors and inspires the next generation.

Contact 3-Fires Training and Camp Management

📞 Call: 519-472-5586

📧 Email: info@3-fires.com

🌐 Visit: www.3-fires.com and on Facebook

Let’s keep the fire burning strong—for our people, our land, and the generations yet to come.

3-Fires Training and Camp Management helps First Nations communities plan and lead safe, meaningful, and culturally rooted hunt camps. Our programs combine traditional knowledge with modern safety practices to create experiences that strengthen families, teach youth, and honour the land and animals. Whether your community is hosting its first camp or building on long-standing traditions, 3-Fires provides the training, tools, and support to keep the spirit of the hunt—and our culture—alive and thriving.

Training Our People. Honouring Our Teachings. Strengthening Our Nations. 

Mino-bimaadiziwin miinawaa Aki (Living in a good way with the Land.)