New horizons for Seniors accountability report for 2014-2015 final report

New Horizons For Seniors

2014-2015 Project Report

Prepared by Manisha Khetarpal

3/30/2015

• One on one training • Youth development • Sharing Circles • MP Blaine Calkins New Hor izons For

Seniors Gathering • Community BBQ •Drop in Technology Tuesdays in the library • Liv ing Library

•Digital Learning• Nechi cafe

New Horizons For Seniors 2014 -2015 Report for Maskwacis Community. Page 2

Executive Summary

This accountability report is prepared for the New Horizons for Seniors programs

offered in 2014-2015. The activities offered were one-on-one training by an

indigenous person, Summer Students, Sharing Circles, MP Blaine Calkins participating

at the New Horizons for Seniors Gathering, and the Drop-in Technology Tuesdays in

the library.

We began offering one on one computer training for seniors in April of 2014. The

instructor was Shawn Yellowbird. This semi formal approach and advertising in the

community did not bring out many seniors. However, a couple of seniors did come to

learn more about the features of the current technology products they were using

such as their cell phones and cameras. This structured training pilot ran from April to

June of 2014 included navigating the internet, MS office, social media and

technology training needs suggested by community members.

From June onwards we shifted gears and offered a soft approach of mingling

youth with seniors at community BBQs and a series of sharing circles. The youth said,

‘Talk to us rather than talk about us. Teach us the Cree language.’ Elders shared the ir

feelings such as holding back from some youth because of their aggressive

behaviour; however the elders expressed their love, caring and compassion in so

many ways. A series of sharing circles were offered from June to November 2014,

January to March 2015, and this opened up communication pathways and

encouraged social bonding. Sharing circles helped expand our contacts, cultivate

relationships with Living Library, Nechi café and Digital Institute assisted with the reach

of our program. It laid the foundation to develop on existing pathways. This created a

safe environment for open communication, learning and knowledge exchange

between elders, youth and everyone in our community.

MP Blaine Calkins participated at the New Horizons for Seniors Gathering on

September 8, 2014. More activit ies included presentations by Rainbow woman, Bruce

Cutknife, and the Drop-in Technology Tuesdays and More Technology Thursdays were

offered at the Maskwacis library during September to November of 2014.

Elders taught traditional songs and drumming to youth. Technology and sharing

circles brought the community together for knowledge translation and transfer

between participants. The circle of energy facilitated and merged traditional and

contemporary technology learning by establishing the path of relevant context and

content. What’s important is the motivation to learn demonstrated when elders and

youth spent three hours together in a sharing circle and all the people involved had

an opportunity to participate and contribute their thoughts. We all became learners.

New Horizons For Seniors 2014 -2015 Report for Maskwacis Community. Page 3

MP Blaine Calkins New Horizons for Seniors

Gathering

The gathering was hosted on September 8, 2014 and this day is commemorated by UNESCO as International Literacy Day. Mr. Blaine Calkins in his speech honored

indigenous elders in the community.

Media coverage

September 10, 2014:

http://www.ponokanews.com/community/274607411.html

September 17, 2014:

http://eedition.wetaskiwintimes.com/doc/Wetaskiwin-Times-

Advertiser/wetasiwin-0917/2014091601/13.html#12

Elder Mr. Frank saying a prayer

New Horizons For Seniors 2014 -2015 Report for Maskwacis Community. Page 4

Holistic approach to healing presentation by

Rainbow Woman

Presenter Facilitator Ningwakwe (Rainbow Woman), aka Priscilla George, is a Deer Clan AnishnawbeKwe from the Chippewas of Saugeen First Nation.

Ningwakwe has been involved with cultivating indigenous training from the

grassroots and international levels. Ningwakwe advocates for the holistic

approach to life, which means recognizing and nurturing the Spirit, Heart, Mind

and Body and all areas of life and relationship. This is the foundation for

developing positive cultural identity, which gives us the skills to walk successfully

in two worlds – the aboriginal and the non-aboriginal. She did a presentation

on September 8, 2014 to the Maskwacis community.

Participant reflection and feedback

Rainbow women’s presentation was an eye opener for me. She taught me about the medicine wheel and how important it is to learn about ourselves, our culture and

tradit ions. To nurt ure our mind, body, spirit , and heart . I also enjoyed the meanings of the colors of the rainbow. (Part icipant A)

New Horizons For Seniors 2014 -2015 Report for Maskwacis Community. Page 5

Really enjoyed Rainbow woman’s presentation. She is a very intelligent wonderful

woman. I hope to be as smart and outspoken as her. I really liked her rainbow theory and how she told us about what the color’s represent. I also enjoyed the medicine wheel –

emotion, spirit , heart and body. I wouldn’t mind to see her again, hear more about her studies. I also would like to read her books. They sound really interest ing. (Part icipant S)

Rainbow woman was inspiring, no matter how down and lost you are, you can pick

yourself up, only if you really want to change your life. It is totally up to you. Some people

are too lost to even try or think they can’t but it’s all in their head, you can only keep yourself down. Her rainbow was awesome. All though I can’t remember the colors what

they represent. I enjoyed the presentation. (Part icipant P)

Rainbow woman inspired me. She is something like me but I am st ill st ruggling. The way she was saying how she had addict ions, like it ’s nice to know that there is st ill hope for me

and she had addict ions like all of us. It’s started way back with my parents and now I raise

my kids on my own and I st ruggle every day. Rainbow woman really touched me with her life story where things happened with drugs and alcohol and how she got help and

knowing there are people st ill out there that care and how you and how you can get back in the world because as people say there is a big world out there. I lost my

language when I was six years of age and don’t know how to speak it . I take my hat off

for her and her culture. Well, I learned a lot and a touching story of her life and how many years’ sobriety and help she got from the people that supported her. Hope I can do the

same one day. (Part icipant W)

She was such an awesome lady that shared her story with us and some of the woman

who sat in her presentation can relate to what she talked about. I have learned the colors of the rainbow. (Part icipant I)

I never knew about the rainbow like that all my

years in schooling I never got through. Now, I’m happy I got to know something new and show my

kids the meaning of red, orange, yellow, green,

blue, indigo, violet saying (Part icipant C)

Elder Mary Moonias presenting

a gift to the presenter

New Horizons For Seniors 2014 -2015 Report for Maskwacis Community. Page 6

Sharing Circles

Sharing Circle is a program model where all participants sit in a circle. The

conversation is facilitated by an elder or a person designated by an elder.

Some elders used talking sticks such as a stone or a feather. The circle is not

hierarchical and everyone participates and contributes. For our sharing circles

all the participants stayed together for atleast two to three hours. An

honorarium and/or gift are presented to elders. Food was prov ided as it

naturally made participants stay engaged longer and encouraged table

conversations.

A series of eight sharing circles were hosted involving knowledge transmission

and social participation of elders.

June 11, 2014: Elders, Maskwacis

June 18, 2014: Schools and non indigenous learning about elders and

protocol

June 19, 2014: Field trip including storytelling

July 8, 2014: History learning and researching at Chiniki Learning Centre

September 9, 2014: Rainbow woman’s holistic approach using medicine

wheel/circle

November 18, 2014: Marilyn Rowan’s talking circle about indigenous

parenting

January 21, 2015: Elders Wisdom Sharing Circle with youth as an audience

March 11, 2015: Elders Community and Family History Sharing Circle with

active participation by youth

New Horizons For Seniors 2014 -2015 Report for Maskwacis Community. Page 7

New Horizons for Seniors sharing circle on June 11, 2014 at

Maskwacis Cultural College

The circle began at 11 am on June 11. It included soup and bannock and

ended at 2 pm. 12 elders and a total of 35 participants took part. Most of the

conversation was in the Cree language. This gave all the participants more

courage to speak in the Cree language. The topics for dialogue were as

follows:

Visit seniors in their homes Host more of these sharing circles

The youth told the elders, "Talk to us rather than talk about us."

Marriage values

Treat other people just like the way you would like to be treated

Teach us how to use computers and technology so that we can connect

with our grandchildren More Cree speaking circles such as these are needed in our community

Library need survey

Now, watch our circle growing in the following pictures.

http://setuppubliclibrarywithfncommunity.blogspot.ca/2014/06/new-horizons-for-seniors-sharing-

cricle.html

New Horizons For Seniors 2014 -2015 Report for Maskwacis Community. Page 8

Sharing Circle for non-indigenous people on Wednesday,

June 18, 2014

New Horizons Sharing Circle for non-indigenous people was facilitated by two elders on Wednesday, June 18

from 11 am to 2 pm. The session had participants from Edmonton Public Library, University of Alberta, Let’s Talk

Science, board members from Wetaskiwin Regional School Division, Wolf Creek School division, and Ponoka

Outreach school.

The information flow for the first part was as follows: Introductions, Prayer and indigenous teachings by an elder,

Talking stick, and Elder provided suggestions for the concerns and humanity problems/issues. The first part of the

circle began with 9 participants. The second part was lunch and networking; included 25 participants. This

healing circle was the first step and will be followed by a sweat for participants who require additional support

to heal from their past experiences or wounds.

The questions posed by participants are as follows: When does one get the title of an elder? What is the

protocol to invite an elder to a school? The protocol of respect; which elder will lead the circle when more

than two elders are present. Questions were posed about the offering of tobacco.

A library need survey was conducted. 100% consensus in this sharing circle about the need for a community

library service for indigenous communities. Schools suggested more training opportunities for their staff and a

need for indigenous content and resources as tools to facilitate learning.

To join the sharing and healing circle call 780 585 3925.

http://setuppubliclibrarywithfncommunity.blogspot.ca/2014/06/new-horizons-sharing-circle-for-

non.html

New Horizons For Seniors 2014 -2015 Report for Maskwacis Community. Page 9

Sharing Circle field trip by Grade 6 students from Samson school

and Meyonohk School to the community library on June 19, 2014

Mr. Jerry Saddleback facilitated a storytelling sharing circle for the field trip by Grade 6 students from Samson

school to the community library on June 19, 1:15 to 2:15 pm. The flow of information was as follows:

1. Journalism as a career and meet and greet journalists

2. Enjoy library services: read books, computers, guitars in the Makerspace, listen to songs at the

listening/viewing station

3. Register for the summer reading program and take home reading packets

4. Welcome and receive books from a Grade 6 leader from Edmonton School

5. Storytelling and sharing circle facilitated by Jerry Saddleback

6. Take home books to read

Two journalists shared their experience about writing, where they studied to become a writer for a newspaper.

Students asked questions about photojournalism and colleges which offer these courses. Grade 6 student from

Edmonton school was inspired by CBC story and in their leadership class she collected books. Student Sophia

from Edmonton, Meyonohk School, Millwoods came to the Maskwacis community with her mother and school

Principal Mr. Cameron Mah; brought books for Maskwacis students. We are proud of this partnership,

teamwork and network. The gold in Canada is the people of Canada. Students help students. Thank you Ms.

Emma-Kent grade 6 teacher at Samson school, CBC and student leader Sophia.

http://setuppubliclibrarywithfncommunity.blogspot.ca/2014/06/cbc-story-inspires-edmonton-grade-

6.html

New Horizons For Seniors 2014 -2015 Report for Maskwacis Community. Page 10

History learning and researching sharing circle on July 8, 2014

at Chiniki Learning Centre, Morley

32 youth/students participated in the learning and sharing circle at Morley. The morning session was

presented v ia traditional storytelling style by Maskwacis Cultural College, President Patricia Goodwill

Littlechild. This included origin, identity, mapping and connections with allies/tribes, creations stories,

leaders, etc. Handouts included Council Fires Social organization. The afternoon session was a hands-

on session in the computer lab. Students learned about open source, v irtual reference, online

databases, portals, and internet CRAP (Current, Relevant, Authoritative, and Purpose). Students

learned about search concepts, Boolean operators, report template in word, and citation formats.

TD Summer Reading Program materials and fiction books were included in the information literacy

folders. Indigenous Library and Information Technology program information was also shared with the

learners.

http://collegelibraryservices.blogspot.ca/2014/07/history-learning-and-researching.html

New Horizons For Seniors 2014 -2015 Report for Maskwacis Community. Page 11

Rainbow woman healing circle on September 9, 2014

Rainbow lady facilitating the circle for youth

25 youth and six elders participated in the circle. Rainbow lady shared her

personal story and v ictory over alcohol. Her persistence in pursuing her

education and then going back to her reserve to help her community.

In the afternoon a sharing circle was hosted with

the staff and 9 people participated. The message

was to take care of ourselves and have a balance

using the medicine wheel.

Healing Circle for college staff

New Horizons For Seniors 2014 -2015 Report for Maskwacis Community. Page 12

Community members

participated in sharing and

healing occurred.

Representatives from schools,

literacy practitioners and

students came to observe this

process and apply in their work

env ironments and personal life.

“I learned that there are different forms of l iteracy – visual,

l iteracy in writing, speaking, etc. One example is how both my

parents were very fluent in the Cree language and it would

appear to me that they would have trouble with either

pronunciation of words or the sequence of how they would

form a sentence. For instance, how my father who was a fluent

Cree speaker would have to process the information (English)

from Cree and then back into English. This I learned was another

form of l iteracy, called the “Ancestral Language.” Also all

participants of the Literacy workshop were given a box full of

books to take back to our school and now I can use these books

to motivate our students to further develop their l iteracy skil ls. I

can even use these books as prizes, awards or a book bank. Our

junior high students peeked at the books and were excited.”

Al Wolfe participant from Maskwacis Wahkotowin Liaison, CB McMurdo School, Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools.

New Horizons For Seniors 2014 -2015 Report for Maskwacis Community. Page 13

Marilyn Roan facilitated a talking circle about indigenous

parenting with the Early Childhood

Development class

23 youth/students participated in the learning and sharing

circle. The talking circle was facilitated by Marilyn Roan on

November 18, 2014. The participants were from the Early

Childhood Development (ECD) class. Ms. Roan brought the talking

circle artifacts and regalia she uses such as smudging, kokum and

talking stick.

The protocol for talking circle, circle of trust, conversation in

Cree language, talking sticks, first round of introductions, second

round was about indigenous, and wrap up by commenting or

sharing learning’s.

The participants learned about indigenous parenting plus moss bag teachings as shared by

elders. We also kept in mind safety such as moss bags and car seats. The youth learned about ethical

protocol and the right way to facilitate a talking circle. This technique and principles can be used for

trauma healing circles.

Facilitator Marilyn learning

advanced computer skills

New Horizons For Seniors 2014 -2015 Report for Maskwacis Community. Page 14

Elders Wisdom Sharing Circle with youth as an

audience on January 21, 2015

12 elders and 25 youth participated in

the sharing circle. The elders

suggested participating in

ceremonies and more cultural

connections.

New Horizons For Seniors 2014 -2015 Report for Maskwacis Community. Page 15

Elders told us to continue with the cultural component. Pipe ceremonies are important and

sacred. Elders put on the shoulders of parents to take their teachings home to speak in the

Cree language. The language is descript ive and teaching kinship is easy as each cross and

parallel relat ionship and connections between the families has a name and meaning. Elders

stressed the importance on modeling kindness and compassion values by parents as this will

inst ill the same values in our children.

Elders predicted the shortage of funding for education and praised the teachers for their

work and to keep up their motivation of doing the best for their children.

This session was in the Cree language and was recorded. This content will be used for

educational purposes. However there is a need for a Cree Interpreter t ranslator grant to

cover the cost of t ranslat ional into English language and for a technician to make it in a

digital format.

http://collegelibraryservices.blogspot.ca/2015/01/new -horizons-for-seniors-sharing-circle.html

New Horizons For Seniors 2014 -2015 Report for Maskwacis Community. Page 16

Elders Family History and Community Sharing

Circle with active participation of youth on

March 11, 2015

Elder Marvin Littlechild is a member of the Ermineskin Cree First Nation in Alberta and

he facilitated the sharing circle. 25 students and two elders participated in the

Sharing Circle on March 11th from 11 am to 2 pm. The sharing circle was followed by a

lunch and community members were invited to share a meal and join in the

conversation. Table conversation was about kinship and tracing families which family

names such as Smallboy, Crier, Saddleback, Buffalo, Bull, and Wildcat. The teachings

of the elder were ‘conquer yourself and be bicultural’.

New Horizons For Seniors 2014 -2015 Report for Maskwacis Community. Page 17

Story of Cree Place Names Presentation

The Story of Cree Place Names presentation by Bruce Cutknife on

October 8th, 2014. 15 community members including youth and

4 elders listened to this presentation. Naming of the Mountains,

rivers, cities are part of the environmental print and this helped in

learning the Cree language.

Bruce Cutknife is a member of the Samson Cree First Nation in

Maskwacis, Alberta. Bruce was born and raised on the Bear Hills

Maskwachees community with Cree as his first language. He

attended the Ermineskin Residential School up until grade 9 and then moved to Edmonton to attend

High School. Bruce started working in the Living History Program of the Maskwacis Cultural College in

1976. His duties included Audio and Video recording of Elders talking about local history. This involved

working with Elders to collect and archive the Cree language, work with the Cree Syllabics and use

them in the collection and archiv ing of local history.

Bruce is now the Indigenous Education Coordinator for the Nipisihkopahk Education Authority. Bruce

has worked on numerous projects related to Cree Culture and Cree History. These include Power

Point Presentations on the Cree Place Name Map, Condensed First Nation History Presentation and

the History of the Residential School. Bruce’s hobbies and other areas of interest include

photography, music, archery, travel, traditional music and dance.

New Horizons For Seniors 2014 -2015 Report for Maskwacis Community. Page 18

Summer Students and Community BBQ

ATCO hosted a BBQ on July 16, 2014. Over 250 participated in the BBQ and

various learning stations. This was a social gathering organized by youth for

everyone in the community. This event served as a connecting bridge between

elders to youth in our community.

Elder Mary Moonias was our reading role model

and she encouraged students to read. 160 people

registered for the reading program.

Youth development: 15 youth worked at the library

during the summer for the reading program &

scanned old newspapers ‘Bear Hills’ donated by

Elder Marv in Littlechild in July of 2014.

http://www.slideshare.net/ManishaKhetarpal/summer-students-at-work-building-community-library-mcc-july-

152014

http://setuppubliclibrarywithfncommunity.blogspot.ca/2014/07/engaging-learning-opportunities-part-of.html

http://aboriginalsummerreading.blogspot.ca/2014/07/160-memebrs-of-maskwacis-community.html

Elder Mary Moonias encourages community to join the summer

reading program.

New Horizons For Seniors 2014 -2015 Report for Maskwacis Community. Page 19

Community Barbeque: 11 partners mobilized $13,275

Community Leverage dollars Staff/volunteer Food Giveaway

ATCO $ 1,250.00 $ 1,000.00 $ 500.00 10 ATCO staff v olunteered for 5 hours x $25/hour

Urban systems $ 375.00 $ 100.00 $ 500.00 3 staff x 5 hours x $25/hour

Let's Talk Science experiments & supplies $ 500.00

$ 100.00 4 staff x 5 hours x $25/hour

APEGA $ 250.00

2 staff x 5 hours x $25/hour

Stony Plain Public Library $ 250.00

$100 2 staff x 5 hours x $25/hour

College staff $ 1,250.00

5 staff x 10 hours x $25/hour

Gords NoFrills

$100 Plastic bags

Save the Children Canada

$ 5,000.00 1000X$5/book

Youth of Maskwacis $ 2,000.00

20 summer studentsx4x$25/hour

Total: $13,275 $ 5,875.00 $ 1,100.00 $ 6,300.00 13,275.00

BBQ Partners: ATCO, Let's Talk Science, Uncle Jimmy, Stony Plain Public Library, Ur ban Systems, APEGA, Gord's

NoFrills, Save the Children Canada, Montana School, TDSRC, Maskwacis Summer student program, and New

Horizons For Seniors. Shown in the picture below is a senior from Stony Plain volunteering at the BBQ .

http://communicationsprogress.blogspot.ca/2014/07/librarys-second-annual-showcsae-on-july.html

http://setuppubliclibrarywithfncommunity.blogspot.ca/2014_07_01_archive.html

New Horizons For Seniors 2014 -2015 Report for Maskwacis Community. Page 20

Elders as reading

role models

Samson: 79

Louis Bull: 23

Montana: 8

Ermineskin: 28

Other reserves such as Frog Lake, Saddle Lake,

Onion Lake, etc: 21

New Horizons For Seniors 2014 -2015 Report for Maskwacis Community. Page 21

Youth learn about drumming from Elders

5 youth came and learned about drumming in the summer of 2014 from Jerry

Saddleback. Youth also learned traditional Cree songs.

New Horizons For Seniors 2014 -2015 Report for Maskwacis Community. Page 22

Drop in Technology Tuesdays at the library

Approximately 40-45 sessions conducted/month for three months from

September to November 2014.

The drop in sessions were tailored to the needs of the learners and included

using the mouse, download the pictures from phone or camera, nav igating the

internet, software basics, Copyright free images, Infographics, etc.

Partnerships with initiatives to reach out to elders: Liv ing Library of Elder

interv iews, Nechi café prov iding foundational framework and Digital Learning

Institute.

New Horizons For Seniors 2014 -2015 Report for Maskwacis Community. Page 23

Digital reading for elders at the library

INDEX

Digital reading for elders at the library, page 23

Drop in Technology Tuesdays at the library, page 22

Elders Family History and Community Sharing Circle with active participation of youth on March 11, 2015 , page 16

Elders Wisdom Sharing Circle with youth as an audience on January 21, 2015, page 14

History learning and researching sharing circle on July 8, 2014 at Chiniki Learning Centre, Morley, page 10

Holistic approach to healing presentation by Rainbow Woman , page 4

Marilyn Roan facilitated a talking circle about indigenous parenting Early Childhood Development class , page 13

MP Blaine Calkins New Horizons for Seniors Gathering , page 3

New Horizons for seniors sharing circle on June 11, 2014 at Maskwacis Cultural College , page 7

Rainbow woman healing circle on September 9, 2014, page 11

Sharing Circle field trip by Grade 6 students from Samson school - Meyonohk School @ community library on

June 19, 2014, page 9

Sharing Circle for non-indigenous people on Wednesday, June 18, 2014, page 8

Sharing Circles Overview , page 6

Story of Cree Place Names Presentation, page 17

Summer Students and Community BBQ, page 18

Youth learn about drumming from Elders, page 21