LAC LA BICHE- Across the Lakeland region, and in Lac La Biche, students participated in a variety of Orange Shirt Day events. École Sainte-Catherine’s Kindergarten to Grade 4 students hosted a special bannock and tea event for a well-known local Indigenous patriarch who offered a meaningful learning experience for the group.
Wally Sinclair, a veteran, Indigenous leader and mental health advocate, presented stories and lessons to the local Francophone school about the significance of Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, on Sept. 28, said Maxine Desjarlais, the school's Kindergarten teacher.
“He was really wonderful. He talked about Orange Shirt Day and the story. Just to have that tea and relax in a comfortable environment with an elder and have those conversations were really good… It was a round table and we all sat around the cafeteria and had some tea and bannock.”
The students and staff in the school all participated in the event, in one way or another, Desjarlais explains.
“The Kindergarteners were the hosts, they’re the ones that prepared the tea and room. The Grade 3 and 4s made the bannock.” Students also created artwork to recognize the day, she said.
Desjarlais says it's vital as a school to be a part of the healing journey.
“We really wanted to let our school community know about Orange Shirt Day and how important it is for us to not forget what happened, and to share the knowledge.”
In an effort to contribute and actively learn about Indigenous heritage, some of the students at the school learned and practiced singing O’Canada in Cree.
“[Students] really wanted to share that with him… We got our binders and sang O’Canada in Cree for him,” she said.
Following the presentation and experience, the Kindergarten students ended up building a connection with Sinclair and are now eager to continue learning, Desjarlais said.
“It was all the kids. It was magnificent, some of the kids even stayed later to ask him some questions.”
