Blog Posts

in March, Janelle Alladina came to SD8 to share knowledge about Pow Wow and Indigenous Peoples in Canada. She shared stories, language, and teachings from her Nation. Janelle is a proud Secwépemc (Shuswap) woman from T’exelc (Williams Lake Indian Band). Her father is former chief Willie Alphonse Jr, and her mother is Cree from Horse Lake. She has been dancing fancy shawl and jingle dress since she was 2 years old.

Content Warning: this topic may be sensitive for som

Spring has finally sprung! There is no surer sign that the seasons have changed than the beginning of eight weeks of training for our annual Reconciliation Run Walk Wheel taking place in all SD8 schools in June. The run offers weekly teachings on this year’s theme of Health, Wellness, and Reconciliation, along with training tips and information for all the staff, students and families who participate.

The #sd8abed 8 week Run Walk Wheel training will start April 8^th! This year’s theme is around Health, Wellness, and Reconciliation. Each week, there will be teachings shared around these themes, along with some tips and information for training to work toward the Reconciliation Run Walk Wheel in all SD8 Schools in June. We won’t be following any particular program, it will be up to staff to choose something listed on the website.

This past month has been a flurry of physical, intellectual, social and emotional learning in our six families of schools as students engaged in activities that stretched their skills, and exercised their understanding, leading us toward our upcoming spring break from March 18 to April 1. 

Winlaw Aboriginal Education

Kootenay River Secondary has been busy for the first half of the year. We have a large population of Indigenous students that have gathered for various educational and cultural activities. Some highlights for the fall were our walk for Truth and Reconciliation, Aboriginal Education Program assembly where Taeley did the Old School Fancy dance, poppy beading with Trina Williams for Indigenous Veterans Day, smudging with Angie Louie, Christmas Party, and teaching traditional dances to classes.

This year, the #sd8abed department is committed to bringing Indigenous teachings into all schools, for full school assemblies and/or multi-class performances.  These opportunities honour rights holders, local knowledge and give all students an opportunity to learn and engage through Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Being, and Doing.  As a team at your school, you can decide how best this performance will be orchestrated with your school numbers and spaces.

In recent weeks at Hume Elementary we have been finishing up the story of "Sila and the Land" by Shelby Angalik (Inuk), Ariana Roundpoint (Mohawk), and Lindsay DuPré (Métis). Lessons from the Land that we have learned alongside Sila have included:

-the Salmon's teaching of the importance of returning home after an adventure and sharing one's stories and knowledge. As a symbol to help us remember this teaching we made our own sharing sticks. 

We hope your start to the year 2024 has been great so far. Recognizing we may experiences difficult times during these winter months, SD8 Aboriginal Education shares these Indigenous Wellness Resources.

Staff in Aboriginal Education in SD8 Kootenay Lake share the following tips for keeping healthy and well during the winter months: