The enthusiasm and joy of the Ashmont Elementary Students that came together to participate in a round dance in their school gymnasium last Friday was unmistakable.
The teacher organizers for the school’s annual National Aboriginal Day celebration could see the excitement as a sign they had accomplished their mission by getting students to be proud of their culture.
“With a day like today, we really try to encourage our students to value their culture, whether they be non-aboriginal too,” says school assistant principal Candice Houle. “We want them to understand that they have an interesting and positive culture, and they have a lot to be proud of.”
Houle went on to explain that through the years, the school has taken much more of a hands-on role in hosting the event. Throughout the school year, teachers attend different cultural teaching workshops, and pass those lessons on to their students.
Friday began with Elder Ennis Cardinal teaching the students a special prayer of blessing. Jody John then taught the students the art of the hoop dance.
After the students completed some classroom activities, they spent some time outside taking part in cultural teachings.
Grade 1 students did some rock painting, which helped impart wisdom to the students about the importance of rocks to the culture. The Cree people call the rocks “the Grandfathers,” as they suggest that it is the oldest spirit living on Earth. Thus, the rocks carry wisdom.
Grade 2 students did some drumming. The teachers also discussed with the students the importance of drumming to Cree Culture. The drums are considered “the heartbeat of the nation,” and it has a major role in ceremonies and social events.
The Grade 3 students beaded lanyards while learning about the colours of the Medicine Wheel. The Medicine Wheel teaches the importance of good health and happiness, and it symbolizes the cycles of life.
The Grade 4 students enjoyed bannock and tea over a fire pit. While enjoying these treats, the students talked about the importance of honouring the relationships they make with people they encounter in life.
The Grade 5 students did some beading, which helped them learn about the importance of having patience, and the Grade 6 students made headdresses, which also carry much cultural significance.
The students ended off the day with a round dance, which fosters a sense of community and relationship with the people in the circle, and enforces the idea of equality among the people taking part in the dance.
A day earlier on June 18, hands joined together at Pakan School, as students twirled around the gymnasium. As they moved, they each received an apple, in an Apple Dance that closed off the school’s celebration of National Aboriginal Day.
Pakan School teaching assistant Valerie Hunter organized the day’s events at the school, including jigging, a round dance, drumming, hoop dances and more.
“I thought it was very important to celebrate it since we are aboriginal people,” said Hunter.
Hunter’s daughter, seven-year-old Jasmine, was among those performing, as she did a hoop dance that had the audience clapping and cheering. She explains her mother was the one that taught her to dance.
Hunter said she was inspired to start learning and teaching hoop dancing last year, after seeing hoop dancers perform at a conference in Edmonton. As a self-described lover of dancing, it seemed like a good idea to bring the traditional activity to Pakan School.
“But I’m getting tool old, so I need the young people to do it for me,” she said with a laugh. She adds that offering hoop dancing classes gives young people an alternative to using drugs and alcohol. “I want them to feel like they belong to something healthy, that’s fun, that’s exercise.”
She said she was really happy to see kids wanting to be involved, with more and more students expressing interest in joining the class.
Such traditional activities were reflected in a colouring contest sponsored at the school, which asked kids to draw their identity. Included in the items reflecting identity were typical kids and teen interests, such as hockey, football, video games and rodeos, but there were also signs of the kids’ pride in their First Nations heritage, including jingle dresses, an eagle, tipis, and more.
Student Talliya Baynes, 12, is involved in a student leadership training group at the school that encourages volunteering. She explained that to her, National Aboriiginal Day is “about our culture. How there’s Canada Day – we have powwows, round dances.”
Fourteen-year-old Tenika Berland adds it’s good to have a day to celebrate aboriginal culture, “because you’re showing people who you are.”
Other schools in the area were planning on celebrating National Aboriginal Day early this week. The day set aside nationally for the celebration is June 21, which coincides with the summer solstice.
