Rediscovery program threatened by logging
In 1986 Stein Rediscovery was established to put youth back in touch with themselves and this sacred valley -to help them rediscover an essential process which had been disrupted in recent times. Today, boys and girls, natives and non-natives, from all social backgrounds can benefit from the educational, self-awareness and adventure opportunities offered through Stein Rediscovery.
The program is an adventure of the mind, body and spirit from start to finish. Getting to and from camp is a challenging adventure in itself.
While pre-teen campers may arrive or depart base camp by helicopter, all teen sessions begin and end their two-week odyssey with a three-day hike. An exciting descent from one of the beautiful mountain passes to base camp is followed by another three-day expedition through the lower river canyon to Lytton at the end of the session. This 80 km traverse of the watershed has a remarkable way of bringing individuals out of themselves and together as a group, to meet the challenges and experience the rewards of a rugged wilderness adventure.
The Rediscovery base camp, located at the confluence of the Stein River and Cottonwood Creek, allows for experiences very different form those of the trail. Each day in camp begins with a "rabbit run" through the forest and a "bird bath" in the cold river before breakfast. As a family unit, everyone helps in the camp chores of wood cutting, water hauling, dish washing, and also in supplementing the camp diet through gardening, fishing and wild food foraging.
One of the features which most distinguishes Rediscovery programs from other wilderness camps is the role that native elders play in teaching traditional crafts and skills. The art of weaving spruce root and cedar baskets, native cooking, wood carving, medicinal plant use, Indian tanning and leathercraft are unique learning opportunities the elders provide in the program.
Nowhere is the role of the elders more important than in preparing youth for their solo vision quest. From the vow of silence and fasting, to the ritual cleansing in the river, to the final purification in the sweat lodge, elders help youth share in the sacred rituals of the vision quest.
While Stein Rediscovery is designed to primarily serve the needs of Lytton, Lillooet and Mt. Currie youth, any youngster-native or non-native-from any area of the world is eligible to take art in the program.
With so many positive reports coming out about the importance of the program it is sad to note that should the logging road be built, the first cut block will be the area around the Rediscovery camp. Logging will destroy the program, yet another assault on the native people who claim the Stein as their heritage.
