BASC welcomes Maasai tribe for cultural exchange

[Conor O'Gorman]

Members of a Maasai tribe swapped the plains of Kenya for the banks of the River Alyn in Rossett when they visited BASC as part of a cultural exchange.

The Maasai spent time meeting staff at BASC’s head office, discussing issues affecting shooting and conservation. Also in attendance were students from Coleg Cambria in Wrexham who came along to cook a range of game canapes for the Maasai to try.

Later in the day, the Maasai group visited Church Drive Primary School in Port Sunlight on the Wirral. BASC staff accompanied them to help build birdboxes which will be put up by members of the school’s eco and conservation clubs.

More details on the visit here:

BASC welcomes Maasai tribe for cultural exchange

Fieldsports Channel produced a short film on the visit here:

 

[Rake Aboot]

They were at the bushcraft fair as well weren’t they ?

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

They were at the bushcraft fair as well weren’t they ?

I think so, further details from the online article:

The visit came about after a call for help issued by BASC member Jason Ingamells, trip organiser and director of the Woodland Ways Bushcraft Foundation. Jason had asked for assistance to transport the group around the UK and BASC sponsored a minibus for the duration of the two-week trip.

Jason explained that the aim of the trip was to raise funds for the development of a school in Kenya and to further develop and nurture “a cultural exchange of help, assistance, ideas and raising awareness of what it is to be a Maasai and what it is to work in partnership with people who are trying to make a small difference in their own part of the world”.

Jason’s organisation had been working with the group for about 10 years. He said: “We have been helping a community to help themselves by providing financial input and logistical help in order for them to undertake projects that would be much harder to achieve without that assistance. It’s a group of friends we have been working with for years. They lead on projects, we just provide assistance to make them happen.”

 

[enfieldspares]

It is worthy to note that although they may be continents apart from Europe that the throwing stick is common to all hunters throughout the world. Africa, the Americas and Europe.. I remember seeing ones shown to me by the late Clifford Owen former Deputy Director of Leicestershire Museums where the "head" was cast lead that were used in England in the 1920s.

From the internet: See"squailer" in the Amateur Poacher by Richard Jefferies, stick with lead tip moulded in a tea cup. Used for rabbits and squirrels.The very heavy end of lead would hopefully prevent the squailer lodging in a tree as it would unbalance and fall down.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

It is worthy to note that although they may be continents apart from Europe that the throwing stick is common to all hunters throughout the world. Africa, the Americas and Europe.. I remember seeing ones shown to me by the late Clifford Owen former Deputy Director of Leicestershire Museums where the "head" was cast lead that were used in England in the 1920s.

From the internet: See"squailer" in the Amateur Poacher by Richard Jefferies, stick with lead tip moulded in a tea cup. Used for rabbits and squirrels.The very heavy end of lead would hopefully prevent the squailer lodging in a tree as it would unbalance and fall down.

Thank you, I have looked into the history and culture of throwing sticks following your post and it is truly a fascinating topic.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Positive local press coverage of the visit:

Friendships forged as Maasai tribe visits Wirral school

Cultural exchange sees Maasai community swap plains of Kenya for banks of River Alyn

My favourite bit is one of the teachers at the school explaining that the children had thoroughly enjoyed forging new friendships and finding out about the Maasai way of life and traditions at the "once in a lifetime" event and that this was "an amazing experience and fantastic opportunity for the pupils. They will never forget it."

 

[artschool]

that must have been a fun trip through customs with their sporting equipment

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Here is a different and shorter 2 min video of the visit:

 

[timbrayford]

Brilliant effort by BASC!