Learning Story – Feeding the Fire
May 8, 2026
What Happened?
Today at Bushkids we gathered around the fire to build knowledge together by sharing and drawing.
“What could we be thinking about when feeding the fire?”
Bushkids engaged in meaningful discussions around safety, respect, and caring for the fire and each other. With the warmer weather, we spent more time outside on the Land.
Donovan worked on fleshing a beaver and shared his experience with family on the Land, teaching about Beaver (Tsa). We connected these teachings to the spiritual world component of the Dene Kede curriculum and reflected together through our own experiences.
Throughout the day, the children followed their own interests by playing baseball with sticks as bats, walking to the lake to explore, and enjoying the homemade swing. It was a day filled with connection, play, learning, community and shared experiences on the land.
Why is it Important
They supported each other in learning through conversation, play, and land-based experiences.
It’s a good way to document their learning and build knowledge together by asking questions, sharing ideas, and supporting one another’s learning. Knoweledge comes from community, family and working together. Using the spiritual component of the Dene Kede curriculum also helped connect the children’s experiences to the teachings and knowledge shared by older knowledge holders and Elders strengthening their connection to the land, culture, and each other.
Dene Kede: Beaver, Spiritual World, page 74-75
– Be familiar with local legends about the beaver.
– The beaver conserves the food near it’s lodge by foraging farther afield (Bushkids documented a map in the picture below)
– It controls its environment by being a very precise builder. It measures the water it will require in making it’s dam. It will measure the food it will require for the winter, harvests and rations food.
– Be familiar with the beliefs and customs with respect to the beaver.
What’s Next?
As always, we will continue to Invite knowledge holders to spend the day with Bushkids. We plan to continue extending our knowledge about the beaver. Storytelling about the beaver in the north is a beautiful way to learn about the giant beavers and their role in shaping the landscape as we see it now (ex. the cultural significance of Wıı̀lıı̀ı̀dı̀ eh – Yellowknıie River).