It’s National Aboriginal Day and here at St. Charles College we not only embrace all cultures but we also celebrate the diverse culture and unique heritage of our First Nation, Inuit and Metis people. This day also marks the Summer Solstice.
Two weeks ago, a number of our students participated in a pow wow aimed to bring children from all four school boards together in song and dance.
The “Honouring our Youth” Pow Wow was also an opportunity for our SCC students to showcase their talents.
For Catholic Education Week, Mrs. Gran’s Full Day Kindergarten class at St. David Catholic School, invited Elders into the classroom to teach youth the skill of quilting. Previous to the quilting lesson, students learned about shapes and transformations in their math inquiry. Pictured are student, Xavier Wesley and quilter, Katie Begley working together to plan out his quilt square.
Catholic Education Week ended in a culminating activity whereby the students worked with Elders to create a paper quilt that is now on display for the school to view. Classroom teacher Jennifer Gran said, “it is important for the children to interact with people of various ages as they share their ideas and learn from each other. This was a wonderful sharing of generational knowledge”.
On Friday January 18, 2016, Marymount Academy had the pleasure of spending some of their afternoon with special guest Lisa Marie Naponse. Their guest was introduced by two very confident young women, students Tyanna Soucy and Hailey Organ. These two ladies are currently representatives of the Aniisinaabe Cultural group here at Marymount Academy which is organized in collaboration with Carla Petahtegoose, the SCDSB Indigenous Education Support Worker. Lisa Marie is a self-taught singer and songwriter from Atikameksheng Anishinawbek. She shared her art and music which is a blend of blues, folk, and country. During her visit with Marymount she engaged the students in song and rhythm. Lisa shared with the students that as she was growing up, she was surrounded by music and creativity her mother and father played music and her sisters were pow wow dancers and craftswomen. Lisa speaks to people through music on indigenous life and her experiences as an Anishnawbe Kwe(Woman). Lisa quickly embraced the microphone community; which lead her to eventually co-founding an Indigenous Arts Collective that showcased Indigenous performances and art throughout the city of Ottawa. Today Lisa Marie has returned to her community and is working on new music and art. Finally, to finish off our assembly Hailey Organ kindly presented a gift on behalf of the Marymount staff and students.
The staff and students at St. David Catholic School participated in the “Roc your Mocs” campaign, a fun way to celebrate their diversity and heritage. The “Roc you Mocs’ day started as a social movement in the United States, but has moved into Canada as a way to celebrate individual diversity and raise awareness for Indigenous peoples throughout the world. Cultural pride, comfortable footwear and a lot of fun were the themes of the day!
This fall, St. David Catholic Elementary School resumed it’s 2015 “Project Impact” community initiative entitled, “The Regreening of St. David School Yard with Sweetgrass”. As part of the project, funded through the Coalition for a Livable Sudbury, Local First Nation artist and parent of a student of the Donovan area school, Will Morin, continued his work with the students and staff. Mr. Morin supported the school in planting sweetgrass seeds in the spring of 2015 and is now teaching the schoolbody about harvesting sweetgrass. According to Mr. Morin, “This autumn harvest season rekindles the project’s plan of regreening the new school site for St. David School with native plants specifically sweetgrass, a traditional Anishnabe medicine. The growing of sweetgrass is an ongoing set a teachable moment from planting to harvesting”.
During the presentation, two young female students were asked to water the plants before the sweetgrass was cut. It was explained that water is the first medicine and vital for survival of all life.
Two young boys then gave offerings of tobacco in order to give back before the students take from nature. “We have to give back to the earth. This is done to maintain balance” stated grade 4/5 student Ethan Thompson.
According to kindergarten student, Kadence Legarde, “My Papa grows sweetgrass so I can have sweet dreams.” Mr. Morin’s message reached all students and staff regardless of age. Prior to braiding the sweetgrass Mr. Morin demonstrated the strength of many compared to the strength of one – which echoes the value of inclusion and the importance of coming together as a community to be our strongest selves.
St. David Catholic School welcomed community partners into their school to support the planning of a local conference on Cultural Safety and how First Nation culture is shared and promoted. The Best Start Aboriginal Hub’s Agency Advisory Committee, which includes the Child and Family Centre, the Metis Nation of Ontario, Aboriginal People’s Alliance of Northern Ontario, N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre and the Jubilee Aboriginal Daycare were all at the table to plan the November 20th interagency conference on Cultural Standards in Our Community. According to Jim Eshkawkogan, program manager, “We all have a responsibility to share the culture in the inclusive way it was intended.”
St. David Catholic School and the Aboriginal Best Start Hub have had a 7 year partnership supporting the needs of the community. It is through positive partnerships, with an emphasis on relationship building, that continues to be the foundation of student success and well-being both within the school and the community.
“Clean water for all” was the theme today for Sudbury Catholic Schools First Nations, Metis and Inuit Summer Literacy camp. Carla Petahtegoose, Aboriginal Support Worker for SCDSB shared traditional teachings about water and the responsibility to care for water. Students reflected on how important clean water is in their lives and the sacredness of water on our planet. Songs were sung and prayers were said for clean water for all.
Pictured with Carla are summer students Paa Ben, Brett McComber, Brianna Organ-Fortin and Isabella Pandolfo.
The First Nation, Metis and Inuit summer learning program students at St. Francis School had a special presentation hosted by the Department of Lands and Natural Resources (Wikwemikong). Mary Ellen Kitchikake, provided summer students an interactive and hands on learning teachings about Mnoomin (Wild Rice in Ojibway).
Manoomin, or wild rice is a gift given to the Anishinaabeg from the Creator, and is a center piece of the nutrition and sustenance for their community.
Miigwetch for sharing with us!
Students who are part of the Paul Martin Aboriginal Initiative at St. Charles College were given a task first semester – develop a business by finding a niche in the market. Second semester, they massaged the plan by creating a sound business plan.
The teachers of the program, Paola Gutscher and Jason Michelutti mentored the students and provided them with educational outings tailored to their plan.
The outcome was tremendous – fish hatchery business, a T-Comics (Tribal Comics) company, a business that caters to seniors to assist with cooking and lawn care and the list goes on.
The program is geared towards Aboriginal students interested in business and will run again next year.
