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At GWES, we were honoured with the opportunity to learn the sacred work of preparing and preserving a moose — a gift that sustains families and strengthens our connection to the land, our ancestors, and one another. As part of our Indigenous Studies component within the Adult Dogwood Program, this hands-on learning reflects our commitment to teaching on the land and grounding education in cultural knowledge, responsibility, and real-world skills.

Under the guidance of experienced knowledge keepers, our team and students took part in each stage of this traditional practice, learning not only the techniques, but the values and teachings that come with them.

We learned how to respectfully process the moose quarters — the two front and two back legs — with care, precision, and gratitude, acknowledging the life that was taken to nourish ourselves and our families. We learned how to turn those cuts into hearty moose stew, preparing and jarring it in the way our grandparents did, ensuring our food can last through the seasons.

We learned how to prepare and smoke moose ribs, brisket, and the neck — slow, intentional work that connects us to the smokehouses of our Gitxsan Wilp ancestors, where teachings were passed down through fire, patience, and time. We learned how to vacuum-seal and prepare meat for the freezer, blending traditional practices with modern tools so our food remains safe, long-lasting, and ready to feed many.

We also learned how to properly store the hide so it can later be tanned — a process that honours the whole animal and reflects our belief that nothing should be wasted. Alongside this, we were introduced to basic taxidermy and the respectful ways to prepare wild game for sustenance, purpose, and cultural preservation.

Every person who worked with the meat will receive a portion of the moose. This ensures our students feel a sense of pride in providing food for their families and knowing they earned it with their own hands. They leave this experience carrying forward skills that will benefit them in the future — in their homes, on the land, and beyond this learning space.

This experience was more than learning skills; it was reconnecting with identity, responsibility, and the deep relationships our people have with the land and the animals that give themselves so we can live. It is sacred work — work that must continue to be carried forward into generations to come.

GWES is proud to support these teachings, ensuring that anyone who walks through our doors learns how to prepare their own food, honour their harvests, and walk in the footsteps of those who came before us. We are committed to lifelong learning and to carrying these skills and teachings forward for all who seek them.