A group of teens are getting ready to go ice fishing The Dena'ina that lived in this region were amongst the richest of all the Dena'ina because they didn't have to travel far because they got to fish.

They caught fish year round round.

Before they get going.

Instructor Kevin Vaca does a safety briefing.

We're gonna be using the rods that we built last Friday.

And an important checkup.

you guys want to grab hot chocolate, you're more than welcome too.

The adults help students punch holes in the ice and bait every hook with a piece of shrimp.

I keep feeling nibbles.

But... the fish won't get it.

The instructors hope that teaching the Dena'ina practice of ice fishing will encourage students to take ownership of their next meal.

Vaca tells students they might pull a rainbow trout or arctic char from the lake.

I think they're a big part of our culture here in Alaska.

Whether you're Alaska native or not, Everyone fishes out here.

Onward and upward.

A nonprofit based in Palmer hosts this ice fishing course.

Education about food security and sovereignty in Alaska is becoming more common.

In December, a chugiak high school freshman biology class spent two days processing a moose.

Most of the meat was donated.

The Alaska Farmland Trust estimates that 95% of food consumed by Alaskans is imported from the lower 48.

Indigenous Alaskans have always harvested nearby plants and animals for food.

And although subsistence activities may slow down in the winter, wild food sources are still available if you know where to look.

We think it's important for students to realize that they can do this as a person, and it's super easy for them to get into.

All you need is a little piece of wood and some string, some some fishing line and a hook, and you're able to go out and fish put food on the dinner table for your families.

It's been about a half hour since Hooks went in the water and no one has gotten so much as a bite.

I'm not sure if continuous jigging helps or if just a little more patience is not okay.

It's starting to look like everyone might go home empty handed I got him.

Here we go.

We got one.

Kianna Tassie pulls a 14 inch rainbow trout from the ice.

The only fish caught by anyone in the group.

I was just sitting here and I felt like little boop, boop, boop, boop on my arm, like on my line.

And I was like, my gosh, I got a nibble.

Is this the first time you've ever caught a fish?

Yeah.

Never got ice fishing.

What's first in every kind of fish?

Tassie takes home a meal that wasn't shipped here and a memory she won't soon forget.

In Wasilla, I'm Tim Rockey.