T6 Youth Camp trip to Thailand - Taiya's Experience!

Earlier this spring, NNDDC sponsored Taiya Melancon and Shayla Olsen on a youth trip to Thailand! Read about Taiya's experience in their own words below...

Shayla and I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the 1st International Indigenous Youth Camp in Mae Ning Nai, Thailand. We were warmly welcomed into a beautiful Karen village by an incredibly kind and generous host family whose hospitality and care meant the world to us from the moment we arrived.

Throughout the camp, we were immersed in the sustainable life practiced by the Karen people. We learned about rotational farming and how it plays a key role in preserving the land and ecosystems for future generations. We planted rice seeds by hand in the hills, harvested 1000 year old tea tree leaves, and even gathered honey. All with the guidance and wisdom of local knowledge keepers who did not speak a word of English - There was a translator who translated Thai and the Karen language for us.

Every meal we shared was made from food sourced right from the village itself, each meal served with a bowl of rice. In the Karen village, we saw how every part of daily life from farming and food preparation to community sharing is shaped by a respectful relationship they have to each other and the land. The village did not have much in terms of material wealth, but they were rich in wisdom, culture and the way they live their lives. Everyone in the village has a role and works together, from small children to the elders.

It made me reflect on how, in the Yukon we live sustainably too, through hunting, fishing, and gathering what the land provides in each season. But how can we work together to be more sustainable everyday?

We left with full hearts, new friendships, and a much deeper appreciation for Indigenous knowledge systems from all around the world and land-based practices. A huge thank you to Arramat and team for putting together such an amazing camp, And a heartfelt thank you as well to the Na-Cho Nyak Dun Development Corporation for generously funding our flight to Chaing Mai, Thailand. Your support made this journey possible, and we are so grateful to have an experience we’ll never forget.