Grade one students from White Bear Education Complex, Carlyle Elementary School, Arcola School, Pheasant Rump First Nation, Stoughton Central School, and Ocean Man First Nation gathered together for a day of learning at Prairie Place in Arcola.
It was something for the kids, letting them see and learn firsthand about the First Nations culture, settler's history, and art. The students also shared their own kinship photo collages made up of the pictures of friends, family, and others that they are connected to. It allowed the students to learn about each other.
The students were split into groups consisting of youth from each of the schools. They then attended various stations that were set up. Beginning as a whole group at a teepee raising that Robert Bellegarde led. Bellegarde explained that each of the poles in a teepee stands for an important teaching: love, obedience, kinship, thankfulness, strength, faith, cleanliness, the Creator, happiness, sharing, humility, good child rearing, and respect.
Alma Poitras then spoke of kinship or as the students responded relationships. Poitras also spoke about the meaning of a circle to the First Nations people. She then taught the students a thank you song in Cree.
Other stations throughout the day included an art station led by Michael Lonechild. Cecil Redstar led a drumming station that all of the students thoroughly enjoyed. Cheryl Mantei explained the meaning behind colours that are used culturally: yellow for relationships and to mark the beginning, red for healing, black for storms and to ask for protection, white to ask for knowledge and represent relatives that have passed away, blue to honour their sacred names, and green for Mother Earth.
Lauren Hume with the Rusty Relic Museum in Carlyle attended describing some of the differences between now and when the settler's came to live here. She described life without running water or electricity and let the students try their hand at using a washing board.
Story telling stations were set up led by Sharon Bear and Lisa McArthur. The students were very interested and actively engaged in asking questions.
The last station was run by Armand McArthur who spoke about two specific wheels: the medicine wheel and that of reality. The wheel that describes all reality holds the sacred number four as its driving force. While the medicine wheel describes the seven human qualities that each person should practice: spirituality, love, respect, knowledge, wisdom, inner strength, and humility.
To end the day the students were taught the Round Dance. Holding hands they took part as Redstar provided the drumming and singing. As the dance ended the students were again led in the Cree thank you song that Poitras had taught them. All of the youth were very excited about the day.
Videos and pictures were taken throughout the day that will be compiled onto a CD that will be given to each participating school. Parents may, by speaking with their child's school, gain access to a copy if they wish as a keepsake from the day.
