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Knowledge keeper raises tipi at St. Michael School, shares traditions

Lyndon Linklater, a knowledge keeper from Thunderchild First Nation, spent the day Tuesday at St. Michael School, after raising a tipi and sharing traditions.

WEYBURN – Lyndon Linklater, a knowledge keeper from Thunderchild First Nation, spent the day Tuesday at St. Michael School, after raising a tipi and sharing traditions and stories with students.

The tipi was set up in the morning, and after the presentation of tobacco and a traditional smudge ceremony, Lyndon provided teachings around the raising of the tipi.

Midmorning he had students from Grades 7-9 come out, and they demonstrated how to set up and take down the tipi, then over the lunch hour, Lyndon shared soup and buns with Grade 9 students as he provided teachings around traditional feasts, ribbon skirts and other topics.

The afternoon he hosted Grades 5 and 6 students in the tipi, as Lyndon did storytelling and teachings, then he worked with a group to take down and put away the tipi.

Lyndon has dedicated his life to sharing his knowledge and understanding of Treaty and First Nation world view with others, and has been teaching about truth and reconciliation for more than 20 years in his work through the Office of the Treaty Commissioner, the Remai Modern Art Gallery, as well as teaching at culture camps, running sweats at his family lodge and for a regional psychiatric centre.

He also serves as a knowledge keeper for several school divisions, including the Holy Family school division.