canyon.sd8.bc.ca  · Web view2019. 9. 16. · Rudy Luke, from the Ktunaxa nation, and Nyomi Mainville continue to teach students drumming skills. This year they taught the Kindergarten

ABORIGINAL EDUCATION PROGRAM ..2018-19 YEAR DRAWS TO A CLOSE

Our school year began with an eager crew raising our school tipi. With a sewing patch repair here, a ladder there and hammering one, two, three - voila – the tipi arose. Whew! It

was truly a team effort and that was how our Aboriginal Education Program progressed throughout the year! Our program continued to have a strong cultural focus: to enhance each student’s sense of belonging, pride and identity. During the year there were a variety of opportunities provided to students to support their learning both culturally and academically. Let the learning begin!

Orange Shirt Day was held on September 30, 2018. The story of Residential School was shared with each class. Stories were shared and questions asked during sharing circles in the Ab Ed room. The importance of respect, culture and reconciliation were themes that continued during the course of the year. Students in Grade Two and Three learned about the Seven Teachings including love, respect, courage, humility, truth, wisdom and honesty. In their journals, there were art projects, poems and expression of independent creativity that created deeper connections of learning. At year’s end, there were

field trips for the Grades 5/6/7 to St. Eugene’s Hotel and Conference Center – once home to the St. Eugene’s Residential School. This is where First Nations children from all around the Kootenays were brought to receive their schooling and live away from their parents for weeks, months and even years at a time. Our students received age appropriate history lessons including a tour guided by ‘Margaret’, a local Elder and one time student at St. Euguene’s. Her kind and gentle way helped students to better understand a difficult time in our country’s history. The culmination of our studies over the past few years (the creation of the Reconciliation Blanket, journaling, novel studies, creating Regalia and the Blanket Exercise, to name a few) all came together this June when K-Grade 7 classes attended the “Wuqanq̓ankimik” Run – Ktunaxa word meaning “to walk with long strides…to take big steps” reconciliation themed 1/3/5 km walk or run. Schools from across the district convened to celebrate our

growth in understanding the true meaning of reconciliation and the actions we have taken to create discussion and plan for a future of respect. Well done everyone!

There was a strong focus on Metis studies this year. October 16 – Nov. 16 became the district’s designated Metis Month of Awareness. To acknowlege Louis Riel Day, an assembly regarding Metis heritage was held in October. Here we listened to live fiddle performances of the Red River Jig and many other Metis fiddle songs. Together we attempted to jig a bit ourselves, although we really could have used a few lessons first! However, I hope we all had a bit of fun trying! A Metis Flag was flown for the month of October before the wind promptly tore down our flag pole! We hope to have this repaired for

next October! Stories were shared of the Road Allowance, historical Metis family winter and Christmas traditions as well as the historical significance of La Batoche. This winter the Grade 7 class learned how to sew and bead a pair of Metis mittens. Patterns were cut out from left over felt or fleece, fronts were beaded with beautiful diamond shapes,

pieces were sewn together including a fur trim made out of a cut up old coat. The results were rather spectacular and I hope the pattern is helpful for making many a Christmas gift in the future! In the late Spring, Amy Cross visited our school to continue her teachings to sing in Michif, play the wooden spoons and finally to learn how to dance the jig.

Rudy Luke, from the Ktunaxa nation, and Nyomi Mainville continue to teach students drumming skills. This year they taught the Kindergarten class to sing from 1-10 in Ktunaxa while playing the Pow Wow drum. Their Focus on Youth performance opened the week and inspired the very first Traditional Territory Acknowledgment to be declared during this particular celebration of youth talent in the valley.

This year was our ninth annual Youth Pow Wow! Intermediate students were busy throughout the year creating a piece of their Regalia: shawls, yokes, ribbon shirts, drops, moccasins and leggings. This year we also had a couple of senior students beading their own hair pieces - Libby’s buffalo and Crystal’s bear paw! Beautiful to witness the creativity and the perseverance to complete another part of the story! During April and May we once again welcomed Justus Cree to teach our boys the Grass Dance steps and Cherie Luke to teach the girls the Fancy Shawl! Our young dancers’ skills continue to grow! To accompany our dancers was our Youth Pow Wow drum, ‘Nipqu Clan’ . This year two of our Grade 7s, Kyden and Jeff, were dedicated drum players.

Preparing the school, as a whole, for

Pow Wow, is a teaching opportunity for me to visit classrooms and talk students about many different styles of dance, Pow Wow etiquette, and First Nations’ history. This year several students spoke to classrooms about their own Regalia and the story it ‘tells’. Together we presented information about Pow Wow, Regalia and Pow Wow etiquette.

Our Forest Garden continues to be a treasured place for students acting as an outdoor classroom, a place to hear stories in the tipi and where to experience our connection to nature. Our tipi, though worn, remained up throughout the winter. However, next year our new tipi will stand upon a newly built wooden platform! With thanks to Michelle Bredy and grandson, Bentley, funds were raised to make this happen. We are very thankful. Our tipi has become an integral part of our school serving as a visual reminder of the traditional lands and the

traditional peoples. Our forest area is an area that we continue to fill with drum music, learning opportunities, and dance. There has also been a lot of planting going on. Hand in hand with our Be the Change group, plants were purchased through a Jane Goodall Roots and Shoots grant. Bought from Mountain Tipi Nursery, there were native species plants planted all over our forest

….Bergamont, Nodding Onion, Honeysuckle, Sweetgrass, Rough Fescue, Douglas Fir, White Pine Birch Bark, Juniper,

Antelope to name a few. In the Fall we begin the task of installing metal signs that display the English and Ktunaxa name of the plant and their traditional uses.

National Indigenous Day, June 21, was a day of class projects; weaving ‘Turtle Island’, creating Regalia chokers and then there were nature ‘flower smash prints’ that were so much fun!

Our year was full! My heart is full! Thank you! It was a wonderful year of learning, discovering, perseverance, and play! I am so proud of all of you! As our Grade 7s head over to high school taking on new challenges, discovering new talents and broadening their friendship circle, I wish them much happiness and many new adventures!!!! Always stay true to who you are and all will be well!

Laurel Ewashen: Aboriginal Education Family and Youth Worker