By Corvo Rohwer, Puyallup Tribal News
Tribal families and community members spent their summer outdoors and enjoyed the warm weather at the fifth annual Gathering of Native Americans at the Wolf Camp in Graham from July 14 to 16.
Campers started the week off with a focus on belonging and mastery, followed by interdependence and generosity in the final two days of camp. Activities this year included tie-dye stations, archery, swimming and sports.
Run by the Culture Department, many other Tribal departments also came out to the campgrounds to engage with the youth with team-building games from the Wrap Around Program and talking circles with the Kwawachee Counseling Center.
Puyallup Tribal Council Vice Chairwoman Sylvia Miller said while the GONA program includes a focus on fun, the camp is also about developing a connection to culture and the land.
“This is not only about having fun and enjoying yourself, but it’s a learning process,” Miller said. “The Creator gifted each and every one of us with that water, with these trees, with this land. We should respect it, and it’s important that everyone learns what respect is.”
This year of GONA was special not only because of the program’s five-year anniversary at the Wolf Camp, but also due to the new improvements completed just days before camp started.
The Wolf Camp has seen a lot of change over the years, having been originally developed by Allan Gerking and Chief Leschi Students to host the G.R.E.A.T. summer camp back in 2007, the precursor to the modern GONA program that focused on gang resistance education. This year saw new updates including a completely overhauled basketball court, a new covered activity and dining area, sturdier fences, roof repairs and a deck installation to the main cabin.
Councilman James Rideout joined the construction crew in operating machinery to renovate the area, motivated by the experience of his own children enjoying the camp.
“My kids used to come to this camp,” Rideout said. “When I heard that they were doing work for the camp, I had no hesitation. I wanted to come out there and help.”
Even more improvements are planned for later in the summer, most notably a new dock that will stretch out onto the nearby lake. With Youth Director Lisa Earl having taken over the grounds to host the GONA program in 2021, she was ecstatic to see the wide range of renovations brighten up the area.
“This feels like a happy birthday thing for us,” Earl said. “I’m just grateful that we get to upgrade it this year. … It’s just beautiful, and I only see more good things coming.”
While the GONA camp has finished for the year, campers and their families can always look forward to experiencing the completed renovations next summer. Additionally, the Culture Department also hosts a spring break camp at the Little Wild Wolves Youth Center for those looking to get connected early with the program.
