Stories

At 60 years old, Louis Pancel is recognized as an Elder, yet for much of his life, he carried a quiet longing: to understand who he truly was and where he came from. Raised in the city with little exposure to Indigenous culture, Louis grew up feeling the effects of assimilation firsthand. His family history, deeply rooted in Fort McKay on both sides, had been fractured by colonization, leaving generations, including Louis, without a clear connection to their identity. 

Aside from shooting rabbits with his grandfather as a child, Louis had almost no experience with traditional hunting or trapping. But as he grew older, working nearly 40 years as a professional truck driver and navigating the fast-paced, overwhelming rhythm of city life, he felt an increasingly powerful pull to reconnect with his culture, the land, and himself. 

When founder of the Awake Cultural Camp, and dear friend of Louis, Mel Grandjamb, invited Louis to the Awake Culture Camp, in Northern Alberta, everything changed. 

Created to revive and protect Indigenous knowledge, Awake Culture Camp is a place where traditional skills—hunting, trapping, fishing, respecting the land—are taught, practiced, and carried forward for future generations. For Louis, the camp became much more than a learning opportunity. It became a turning point in his life. “I am so honoured and blessed to have a good friend who took me in and was patient with me while I learned”.  

The land surrounding the camp was so beautiful and meaningful to him that he built a cabin nearby. Northern Alberta, he says, now consumes his thoughts. 

During the camp, Louis had the opportunity to hunt and harvest a moose alongside Josh, a younger participant. Though he had hunted a moose before, he describes this experience as entirely different, deeply traditional and carried out on his ancestral hunting territory. 

“You feel very alive doing this,” Louis shared. “Connected and grounded. It makes us strong. We are powerful people, strong and healthy land-connected people. So many of us are lost, but this… this brings you back.” 

Louis spoke often about the importance of respecting the land, slowing down, and breaking free from the mundane cycle of modern life. Out on the land, he feels freedom—true freedom. No rush hour. No constant noise. No pressure. Just awareness, safety, and gratitude. 

He believes experiences like Awake Culture Camp can heal people, including Elders who may feel disconnected or stagnant in life. “As you get older, you get stagnant, jaded. This place will take that away from you,” he said. “Knowing my roots and connecting with the land… it’s like a dream. I call it my new reality.” 

Louis deeply appreciates what Mel has created. He says he will absolutely return and plans to continue learning alongside Mel in the future. 

He also carries a strong belief that we are here to help and heal each other. “If I can inspire someone, I’m happy to help with guidance. I wouldn’t tell people what to do—just support them.” 

For Louis, Awake Culture Camp isn’t just a camp. It’s a reclamation of identity, a source of inspiration to live more holistically, and a reminder of the beauty, strength, and resilience found in Indigenous roots. 

He highly recommends the camp to anyone, especially those longing to reconnect with who they are. 

This year’s winter trapping season had a late start due to the lack of snow, but that didn’t stop Mel and participants Troy and Elias, who began trapping on January 2. Despite the delay, the season was incredibly successful especially with no quota limits in place. Our harvest included four wolverines, six lynx, as well as fishers, mink and weasels!

AWAKE is now accepting applications for our winter trapping camps. Starting on January 4, participants will learn traditional trapping skills with the experienced guidance of Mel Grandjam. Apply now to save your spot and take advantage of this amazing opportunity.

It’s been a full year since the inception of AWAKE and we are proud to offer new summer programs from August through October for youth aged 12-18. Successful applicants will have the opportunity to take a float plane to a remote northern lake and learn traditional hunting and fishing skills. Apply now to save your spot in this exciting camp!

Founder Mel Grandjamb has been busy raising awareness about AWAKE at local schools. During visits to Sister Mary Phillips Elementary School and Father Patrick Mercredi High School, Mel taught local kids the importance of traditional hunting skills while also providing information on the exciting opportunities the camps provide. We look forward to more students applying for upcoming camps.

We’ve had a very successful season on the AWAKE trapline. After teaching four participants the skills needed to set the traps, we caught 11 lynx, three mink, five weasels, numerous rabbits, ptarmigan and grouse — and we even almost snared a wolf!