Students from the Native Studies and Native Language Programs at the Sudbury Catholic District School board were invited to participate in an Eagle Ceremony at the board’s Outdoor Education Centre in Killarney on January 13, 2010. Vince Pawis, a traditional elder who works with the Catholic Board was given an eagle that had been hit on the highway so he invited the students as well as other community Elders and traditional teachers to help him feast the eagle so that the feathers could be used for traditional purposes. In aboriginal culture, it is believed that the Eagle flies closest to the Creator and, therefore, can see the past, present and future at a glance. The Eagle is considered the great illuminator and sits in the east on the Medicine Wheel with the Elders and the direction of wisdom and guidance. It is a powerful symbol of courage and this is why the feathers are such powerful tools for healing, and why there are special ceremonies for the Eagle feathers. The students learned from the celebration that it is okay to combine wisdom and courage and to be wise enough to know when a change needs to be made in one’s life. Through the strength of the Eagle’s spirit, they learned that they can find the courage to execute the change. The Elders expressed their happiness that there were so many students there to witness and participate in the celebration as it is so important for their culture to passed on. Each student that took part in the ceremony was given an Eagle feather by the elders to take home and cherish.
Category: Indigenous Education
SCDSB Catches the Olympic Spirit!
As the Olympics draw closer, Canadians can’t help but catch the spirit. Some of our SCDSB staff and students were lucky enough to be a part of this historic event this past weekend. One of our teachers from St. Charles College, Jennifer Petahtegoose, and her daughter Hannah, a student at St. James Catholic Elementary danced at the torch lighting ceremony in Sudbury with Kim Nootchtai and her daughter Brianna who is also a student at St. James. As well, Steve Callaghan, our Chaplain at St. Charles College has two sons who are graduates of St. Charles who were both Olympic torch runners for the ceremony.
SCDSB Staff Published Authors in National Magazine
Dawn Wemigwans, Aboriginal Lead and Christina Raso, Special Education Consultant are both Sudbury Catholic District School Board staff who go above and beyond in their roles on a regular basis. Even though their daily workloads allow them little time for anything else, they both realized the importance of sharing best practices with other boards across Canada. Theresa Harris, Executive Director for the Ontario Catholic supervisory Officer’s Association asked all of the Catholic school boards across the province to submit their ideas and initiatives that engage young children in schools. The two women decided to write an article highlighting the value of providing authentic aboriginal learning experiences to students and how this already is taking place at our board. The selected articles were them submitted to a national magazine entitled “Leaders and Learners” which is the official magazine of the Canadian Association of School Administrators The article written by Wemigwans and Raso was one of seven from the entire province selected for the magazine.
St. Charles College Creates New Aboriginal Award in Honour of Grand Council Chief
A visit from Grand Council Chief John Beaucage has inspired St. Charles College to dedicate an award in his name at its most recent graduation ceremonies. The Chief John Beaucage Award is presented each year to an outstanding graduating student of Aboriginal ancestry who demonstrates leadership, a positive attitude, extra-curricular involvement, and pride in cultural identity. The student must also exemplify the St. Charles College motto of “Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge” and holds in high regard the Seven Grandfather Teachings- Wisdom, Love, Respect, Bravery, Honesty, Humility and Truth.
St. Charles College is proud to announce that the 2009 Chief John Beaucage Award was presented to Brent Toulouse. Brent is both a football player and a basketball player at St. Charles College and demonstrated his dedication to extra curricular activity by coaching his little brother’s football team in the Joe MacDonald football league over the summer.
Brent is a graduate of the Mkwa Police Mentorship Program offered at St. Charles College, and aspires to be a police officer. He is also a strong advocate with respect to restoring and resurrecting his Native culture and heritage by stating very strongly and humbly that he would like his language, Anishinabemowin, taught in his school. He is a leader in his Native Studies and Outdoor Education classes. Brent Toulouse is truly deserving of the Chief John Beaucage Award.
Chief John Beaucage was deeply honoured to have the award presented in his name. The school is planning to set up a visit with John Beaucage and the students again in the fall.
Sudbury Catholic District School Board to Celebrate “First Nation Day” Friday, September 25, 2009
Sudbury Catholic District School Board will be celebrating First Nation Day on Friday, September 25, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the St. Joseph Catholic School, 8 St. Paul Street in the township of Killarney, and the startup of the Board’s Outdoor Education Program for the 2009-2010 school year at the Killarney Shebanoning Outdoor Environmental Education Centre (KSOEEC) at the same location from 10:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
The purpose of the day is to actively promote an increased awareness, understanding and appreciation of the rich histories, cultures and perspectives of First Nation, Métis and Inuit peoples to all staff, students and families in the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. Students will also learn about the Board’s Outdoor Environmental program.
Schedule of events:
9:00 a.m. – Students / teacher /community participants meet in circle (around fire pit)
9:15 a.m. – Students and participants help build a small tepee
10:00 a.m. – St. James Catholic School Classes arrive at KSOEEC for Outdoor Education Program
11:00 a.m. – Student dance demonstration (inside school)
11:30 a.m. – Lunch served – Indian Tacos
12:00 p.m. – Students will have their regularly scheduled lunch hour
12:40 p.m. – St. James students split into two groups, (Group A to erect tepees, Group B to participate in outdoor activity)
2:30 p.m – St. James students depart from KSOEEC
Thank you! Miigwetch!
Summer Camp Helps Students Understand Aboriginal Culture
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board offered students from across the Sudbury Region the opportunity to learn about Aboriginal culture over the summer months. For a two-week period students attended the St. David “Summer Camp” which offered them the opportunity to establish new friendships and to learn more about Aboriginal foods, language and culture.
The students also enjoyed the mentorship of Will Morin, a respected member of the Sudbury Aboriginal Community who engaged the students with his stories and his keen understanding of Aboriginal culture.
St. David School Celebrates Safe Neighbourhoods
Verna Hardwick, Native Language Teacher and her Grade 5 to 8 Native Language students joined local Aboriginal Artist, Will Morin, Ward 5 Councillor, Jocelyne Landry-Altman and local community members for the grand unveiling of a 15-foot sculpture made of recycled playground rockets. The sculpture was entitled “Strong Woman” and is located at the top of the green stairs near Marymount Academy and the downtown area.
The students and their teacher proudly drummed for the celebration singing the song “Strong Woman”, a song that celebrates the beauty and life giving nature of all women. In Aboriginal culture, women are to be honoured and respected for their role in keeping our world healthy and strong. The students of St. David Catholic Elementary School are proud to have been invited to be a part of this celebration for safe neighbourhoods.
Technology Makes a Splash in Native Language and Native Studies Programs
Media Creation Technology Kits have been introduced into all Native Studies and Native Language classes in the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. The kits include student and teacher laptops, in-focus projectors, digital still cameras, digital video cameras, wireless microphones and wireless internet capabilities as well as many more multi media components used in the creation of movies, slide shows, podcasts and web page creations.
Students Make Connections to Themselves in Native Culture
The students of St. Charles College and St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School were invited to Atikameksheng First Nation to view a presentation on a Treaty Payment Day and witness a piece of Canadian history in action.
St. Charles Native Studies teacher and Atikameksheng band member, Jennifer Petahtegoose took the opportunity to seize this as a teaching moment by explaining many of the differences and similarities with respect to Native and non-Native cultures. Mrs. Petahtegoose proudly showed her students the band’s eagle staff and explained how “it is a reflection First Nation people and their history.” The students made “talking sticks” in class, which gave them a better understanding of the meaning and history behind their artwork.