Several years ago, the elders of the northwest arctic realized the younger generation was losing its traditional cultural identity and heritage. Change had come so quickly to the area, that few of the younger people knew the Inupiaq language and few know the of the Inupiaq values that helped the people survive thousands of years in a harsh environment. "This is all about cultural survival," said Martha "Siikauraq" Whiting, the executive director of the Robert "Aqqaluk" Newlin Sr. Memorial Trust that runs Camp Sivu. "The elders realized the culture was dying. This is not just about Inupiaq value, but human values."

In 1983, Camp Sivunniiqvik was formed as a way for the elders to pass the Inupiaq culture on to the younger generations. This year, Camp Sivunniiqvik opened its series of four one-week long camps, beginning in July and ending in August.

Sivunmigyik means "the planning place" in Inupiaq, and the camp is used to teach the Inupiat Ilitqusiat program of spiritual values. The camp is located about 30 miles east of Kotzebue on the northern part of the Kobuk River delta, where the Ugrivik River meets the Melvin Channel.

Through the Inupiat Iliqusiat, children are taught knowledge of language, knowledge of family tree, sharing, humility respect for others, love for children, cooperation, hard work, respect for elders, respect for nature, avoidance of conflict, family roles, humor, spirituality domestic skills, hunter success, and responsibility to tribe.

The premise of Inupiat Ilitqusiat is, "Every Inupiaq is responsible to all other Inupiat for the survival of our cultural spirit, and the value and traditions through which it survives. Through our extended family, we retain, teach and live our Inupiaq way,"Whiting said.

Camp Sivunniigvik gives the elders a chance to teach the younger generation of Inupiaq, but the elders also learn how people from neighboring villages might handle certain basic skills. Camp Sivu is the largest of several culture camps scattered around the region, all trying to help educate the next generation.

"The kids learn a lot of history and a lot of skills they'll need to survive in the Western world or in the Inupiaq world," Whitting said. "The kids learn a lot of inde- pendence and they gain a lot of friendships. We get kids who come here year after year and they say Camp Sivu is the highlight of their summer."

During the camp, the students are taught Inupiaq history, stories and legends. They also learn survival skills such as plant identification, fishing, boat safety hunter safety food preparation, shelter and fire making, navigation, trapping and setting. They learn arts and crafts skills, winter survival and Inupiaq games. There is also an alcohol awareness session in hopes of curbing some of the region's alcohol problems. The National Park Service helps teach some of the courses, but elders do most of the instructing.

Whitting said the camp isn't just for Inupiaq youngsters. Many non-Native children living in Northwest have attended the camp. She said there are as many as 50 children a week at the camp, for 200 total each summer, and there are plans to add camps in the fall and winter. "For the first time this year NANA is financing five people to come to the camp from Anchorage and five people to come from Fairbanks," Whitting said. "This is not just an Inupiat camp. It's open to anyone, even someone, bless their heart, who might want to come from New York. It's open to anybody who wants to learn." Alaska Newspapers Inc. publish 7 regional weekly newspapers. For more information about their publications, they may be reached at 907-272-9830.