École Corinthia Park students celebrate National Indigenous History Month with hands-on learning of Indigenous cultures
Students from École Corinthia Park School spent a day celebrating and learning about Indigenous cultures for National Indigenous History Month with a school-wide activity day.
Students from all grades participated in Indigenous games, made art, learned about cultural practices, and tried some traditional snacks, having fun and learning about the cultures that are native to Alberta.
“Days like these benefit our students in their understanding, empathy, reflection, and appreciation for all that Indigenous cultures and activities offer us,” says school Principal Rachel Djordjevic. “We wanted to give our students time to enjoy the Indigenous activities, learn through play, and enjoy nature and being outside.”
The activities of the day included making beaded bracelets and learning about the medicine wheel; playing lacrosse, an Indigenous tag game, and double ball; making and learning about talking sticks and totem poles; practicing drumming; reading Indigenous stories; learning traditional Indigenous dances; and eating Cree bannock.
“Our goal is to reach more kids by making it hands-on, more fun, more accessible for everyone, and then getting them to share that knowledge with their parents and their families,” says Emilie Robichaud-Mckay, grade four teacher and the school’s Indigenous Lead. “What better way to build understanding of Indigenous cultures than by bringing it into our schools to learn and share knowledge with everyone.”
The activity day built on the lessons students receive monthly about the seven sacred teachings (Love, Respect, Courage/Bravery, Honesty, Wisdom, Humility, and Truth) and how they tie into the day to day life of all people.
“This is what true reconciliation looks like,” says Michael Swampy, Black Gold’s Indigenous Lead Instructional Curriculum Coach, “Doing these types of things only grows the want to learn more about our Indigenous cultures. These are histories that have been on this land for thousands of years, and if we can have that history embedded in our daily lives, that only improves our relationships with each other.”
Black Gold School Division supports initiatives that actively promote the successful implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action, Competency 5 of Alberta Education’s Teaching, Leadership, & Superintendent Quality Standards, and the spirit of reconciliation between Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous Peoples. Read more: here
