Every year, since its founding, the White Bear Education Complex holds a flag raising ceremony to begin the school year. It is a way to show happiness for a new year and for school to be starting once again. It honours the different aspects of their lives and the students themselves.
Present were school principal, Murray Bird, guidance councillor and cultural advocate Sarah McArthur, as well as the school elders Marion Littlechief and Maria Joyea.
McArthur, Littlechief, and Joyea spoke about the Eagle Staff and the three flags they raise each year. The first is the Canadian flag, which represents the country. Everyone lives together across the nation under this flag.
The second flag is that of the White Bear First Nation, which represents their specific nation and being a part of this family.
The final flag hoisted is that of the White Bear Education Complex. It was created by one of the students. This flag represents the students and staff who work together towards gaining a higher education as all schools strive to do.
All explained that they would also hoist the Treaty Four flag and Saskatchewan flag if they had more flag poles as they are very important to the White Bear Education Complex as well. The Treaty Four flag because they are members of this group and the Saskatchewan flag because they are also members of this province and all of the people within it.
They, however, only have the three flag poles; but, the meaning behind all five are very important.
The traditional Eagle Staff was also present during the ceremony.
"The staff represents our connection to the land it is parallel to a flag and helps to represent our territory," explained McArthur. "The eagle feathers represent our connection to the Creator through the eagle, the tree the staff comes from is our connection to Mother Earth, and the colours of the ribbons are our sacred colours for ceremony, which are red, white, blue, and yellow."
To begin the ceremony elder Marion Littlechief said a prayer. As she stepped to the side for the flags to be raised drummers began playing the flag song. This song is to pay homage to the eagle staff and the flags being raised as well as to honour them.
This was followed by the victory song in which all were to dance. They danced to show happiness for the new school year starting.
"We dance for life," stated Littlechief.
As the students and staff watched and danced during the ceremony the flags were whipped by the wind to stand at attention making each of the emblems visible to all.
Once the flags were raised and the songs finished the entire student body and staff lined up to shake the hands of each of the drummers and flag raisers, as well as Bird, McArthur, Joyea, Littlechief, and the Eagle Staff carrier. This was a final way to show respect for those conducting the ceremony and for the flag raising.
