White Bear First Nations officially opened he community's Aboriginal Head Start Center, Friday, Sept. 29. The event started with a traditional ceremony and ended with a feast - and appropriately, took place the day before 'The Orange Shirt Campaign - Every Child Matters Day', which is held annually on Sept. 30 in regognition and remembrance of Indigenous children in Canada who were forced to attend residential schools.
One of the dignitaries in attendance, Director of Children's Programs and Initiatives for the Dederation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), Vonnie Francis said: “What better way to celebrate 'Every Child Matters Day' - which is really the recognition of the residential schools on our people language and culture – than opening his new facility to revitalize our language and culture with the children.”
Francis explained that the centre - which will benefit children from infancy to age six – will offer six components in its daily programming: Education, Language and Culture, Nutrition, Social Networking, Health Promotion and Parental Programming.
Alex Campbell, Regional Director General of Health Canada for Saskatchewan underscored the importance of the centre, addressing the crowd in both Cree and English, saying: “I think we can all agree that strategic investments in a child's early years lead to greatly improved long-term health outcomes and this new space is an important step in extending the reach of your health programs to those who need them the most - our children.”
“Health Canada recognizes the positive impact that the Aboriginal Head Start program is having in communities, particularly on children's readiness to learn and the learning of Aboriginal languages.”
The morning's events opened with an open-air prayer in the playground, as pre-school children - many of them wearing orange – took part in a small ceremony just for them, led by Brent McArthur and J.R. McArthur, who also opened the indoor ceremony with traditional singing and drumming.
“This was something Sandra Lonechild, the director asked us to do,” said J.R. McArthur. “We said a prayer for the new building, for her staff and for the little ones.” When we do community functions, prayer, song and food are always involved.”
“The song was specifically for the kids,” he added. “We're here to honour the little people; we;re here to honour the opening of this beautiful building.”
Inside the centre, Elder Nora Kakakaway opened the ceremony with a prayer and later said, “It's great for me to be here today with all of the little ones here.”
Each of the special guests in attendance spoke of the facility's importance to the children of White Bear First Nations.
Executive Director of WBFN Ken Lonechild said: “This ceremony is informal. The kids are here playing during the opening ceremony and it's informal, because it's all about the kids - and promoting our traditions, our culture and our language.”
Councillor Bernard Shepherd said: “Seing my daughter and grandchildren here today enjoying all of this – it's become a full circle. We all have said we hoped to see something like this happen in our lifetimes and now it has.”
Former White Bear First Nations Chief, Brian Standingready said: “This program is an important part of our educational system here at White Bear. We have post-secondary, school to grade 12, the daycare and now, Head Start.”
Sandra Lonechild, WBFN Head Start director was praised for her commitment to helping to bring the Head Start building and program to White Bear.
“It takes an entire community to raise a child,” she said. “There are so many people who have contributed to this project and so many people who will do so moving forward.”
“This day was touching and wonderful,” she added.
Health Canada's Campbell summed up the day by saying: “This is a significant investment in a child's early years and prepares them not only for their school years, but also for a good start in life.”
Artist Michael Lonechild added: “It's a new beginning.”
