DENIIGI C'EZES K'ET NADEN MOOSE HIDE CAMP

Rooted in Dene ways of knowing, Moose Hide Camp centers the sacred relationship between our people, the land, and the moose who sustains us. Participants learn the traditional process of preparing moose hide — fleshing, scraping, stretching, softening, and smoking — guided by Elders and skilled knowledge holders who share not only the “how,” but the “why.”

Every step is grounded in respect and gratitude. We honor the life given. We teach our young people that nothing is wasted. We remember that our ancestors survived and thrived through these teachings.

Camp is intergenerational by design. Youth work alongside parents, aunties, uncles, and Elders. Stories are shared. Language is spoken. Laughter carries across camp. Meals are prepared together. The work strengthens hands — and it strengthens identity.

Deniigi C’ezes K’et Naden creates space for cultural continuity, healing, and leadership rooted in Indigenous values. It affirms that our knowledge lives in our hands, in our relationships, and on the land. Each year, as hides are transformed, so too are the young people who step into deeper understanding of who they are and where they come from.

Through Moose Hide Camp, Alaska Leadership Group stands alongside community to ensure our traditions remain strong — not as history, but as living practice.