On September 29, 2023, Centennial School teacher Kris Klemchuk organized an Indigenous Culture Day. We invited in guests and knowledge keepers to share their time and teachings with us and we set up nine stations for students to rotate through that had kids engaging in a variety of activities and learnings.
The day started with an opening ceremony during which we stood for O Canada sung in Cree and then listened to our Lead Learners as they introduced us to the things they felt we should know about Canadian history. We introduced our guests and gave gifts of tobacco. Then the kids left to take part in the stations.
In our tipi, elder Diane Maytwayashing taught kids about sweetgrass and led them through a smudge. Sunrise Active Learning Program Leader Patty Whatman met with students on our rock circle to do an introduction to treaties and to engage students in activities related to that. Beau Jenvenne, a former Centennial student, engaged students with story-telling which included drumming and singing. Leslie Wakeman and Elaine Vincent teamed up to lead students in a hands-on lesson about the Medicine Wheel and in learning about how food is medicine. In the Music Room, students practiced some Métis jigging and in the back field, our Phys Ed teacher led students through a variety of activities from the Manitoba Indigenous Games. There was a scavenger hunt in the back field, too, where students figured out clues to learn about several Indigenous inventions and land-based resources. In classrooms, students took part in some feather art to reflect on their learning and experiences. And, as background to it all, parent Andrew Picton drummed and sang and taught students about the songs he was singing.
The 29th was a purposeful choice of day for us. It was Orange Shirt Day and the school was a field of orange in recognition of the impact of residential schools on Indigenous people and in affirmation of our belief that every child matters. And the 30th is National Truth and Reconciliation Day, a day that asks all of us to strive to mend the relationship that Canada has with its Indigenous people and to help correct the wrongs that were made when the treaties were not honoured.
We believe that one small way that we can take action to help with reconciliation is through days like today, where we learn about and enjoy Indigenous cultural teachings and activities.
That’s a good reason for having a day like today. But it’s not the only reason. One quarter of Centennial’s students identify as Indigenous. Today, many students mentioned that our tipi is like the tipi of their people, or it’s slightly different. Several spoke about the drumming being familiar and some of the songs were songs their families sing. One told me that she already knew how to Red River jig because her Kookum taught her. It’s good for kids to see themselves and their cultures valued in their school and it’s good for all of us to engage in a variety of cultural activities to enjoy and value the variety in the world.
The day felt really good. Feedback from kids and adults was entirely positive. I heard someone say “Miigwech” to Elder Maytwayashing and she replied that Miigwech means thank you, but it means more than thank you; it means, “My heart is full.”
September 29th felt like an important day that was well executed. Miigwech!