Story and Photo submissions by: Emma Robinson, Headstart Manager
At first, the kids scrunched their noses and let out a chorus of “Ew!” as the smell of the oolichans hit them. It was a natural reaction but also a great teaching moment. We took time to talk about what oolichans mean to us: how they’re not just a smelly little fish, but an important traditional food source and a part of who we are as Nisga’a people.
Once we shared the “why” and showed them the technique, their mindset began to shift. Suddenly, everyone was involved ,some cautiously, some all in. Every child was able to get at least three oolichans onto the stick by themselves. Some were determined to finish a whole stick on their own, and one child proudly managed to thread four sticks with around 20 oolichans on each!
What was even more beautiful was the teamwork that naturally unfolded. For those who weren’t quite ready to touch the oolichans, they still found a way to participate holding the sticks steady for their friends or passing them along with care. No one was left out, and everyone supported each other.
There was so much curiosity and excitement:
“This one has red eyes!”
“Oops, I dropped it!”
That led to another lesson, how we can just rinse them off with water and keep going.
After threading each oolichan, they’d proudly hold up their sticks and show them off to their friends beaming, proud, and excited to be part of it all.
We also got to see t’ibin flipper, and some of the kids were amazed when they learned it came from a sea lion. The learning carried on during the bus ride, filled with chatter about eating the oolichans, what they tasted like, and why we left them to dry. That opened up another conversation how we preserve our food and why that process is so important in our culture.
And of course, lots of giggles filled the air when they saw the stick come out through the fish’s mouth it was all part of the hands-on fun. What started with hesitation turned into a day full of laughter, pride, teamwork, and connection to our traditional ways.
Access the online photo gallery here: https://gitlaxtaamiksvillagegovernmentphotography.zenfoliosite.com/learning-story-exploring-oolichans–a-traditional-food-practice