TEK- Traditional Ecological Knowledge Program 

The TEK Program has the challenge of today "modern view vs. the traditional beliefs", by way of integrating "science vs. tradition" in our workshops we see the opportunity to help the native youth transition to adulthood with a better understanding of their cultural heritage including the expectations of their culture and today's society.  We work hard on helping the youth understand the transition into adulthood in today's society.  TEK focuses on teaching the native youth leadership, family values, environment education, traditional skills,  but most importantly the preservation and conservation of our land, water, animals and the harvesting of the plants and its uses.  We believe that we must teach our  youth the value of these topics for the future generations to come.  TEK is based on four projects and various workshops throughout the year.  Below you will see two of our camps, each year we try our best to integrate various educational and environmental topics and have speakers from different agencies attend to give our native youth a better perspective of what is available for them and their future.

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 LIFE WAYS CAMP
Teaching our Traditions

November 20-22, 2009

The Life Ways Camp" a yearly two-day native youth camp was held on November 21, & 22, 2009, in Bishop.  The camps focus was on Family Values, Prayer, Leadership, Respect, Traditional Ceremonies, Traditional Skills, Traditional Songs & Dance, Language, Stewardship for the Land, and Transitioning into Adulthood within Today's Society!

The youth participated in Traditional games and discussed several topics within these two days, i.e. "What are their expectations within the community as young adults, and the responsibilities that go hand-in-hand with these expectations.  Elders, Counselors and Volunteers help and participated in each group discussion throughout the weekend.  By bringing elders and other community members together, our native youth have an opportunity to learn from others and understand the expectations of their traditions and the consequences of not preserving them, but most importantly, transitioning into adulthood within today's society and becoming leaders.  The age group varies from 8 - 17 years of age.   This year our youth received the Life Ways Camp's new T-shirt and logo that will be representing this particular camp from now on.

The Traditional Ecological Knowledge Program (TEK) Directed by Qwina H. West and Irma Nieves-West, Coordinator, would like to thank all of our funders , counselors, volunteers for making this camp possible once again for our native youth, who are the ones that will carry on our traditions for the generations to come and who are a great part of our community.

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The Paiute Mountain School/Camp

July 13-17th, 2009

This year we focused on Family Values, Teen Pregnancy, Tracking, Trapping, Traditional Arts & Crafts, Job Opportunities within the Forest Service and lots of fishing!

Teen Pregnancy & Family Values - Girls Group

Forest Service Workshop

Traditional Arts & Crafts

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For Donations to our Camps or any other of our Projects,
or more information as to how you can help with our program,
please contact - Irma Yoti West - Marketing/Program Coordinator
at (760) 937-3391 or (760) 873-3041

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