Storytelling:

Sila and the Land is a story written collaboratively by three Indigenous women Shelby Angalik (Inuit), Ariana Roundpoint (wolf clan of the Kanien'kehakah people), and Lindsay DuPre (Metis). The three authors sought out cultural values they have in common and wrote a beautiful picture book embedded with lessons from the land. The book follows the adventures of young Sila as she puts down her schoolbooks to explore and learn from the world around her. We have been learning alongside Sila, the book framing and threading our lessons together. The interconnectivity of all beings, the importance of thinking about the consequences of our choices before we make them, being proud of our identity and knowledge, and the practing the reciprocity of listening and sharing with each other, are some of the lessons we have investigated and reflected on.

Beading:

At the end of November, Ms. Jenna came from Mount Sentinel with two of her students to teach myself and a group of intermediate students how to make beaded lanyards. We have continued to meet every Wednesday at lunch to work on our projects and to connect with one another.

Truth and Reconciliation:

In honour of Truth and Reconciliation Day, we had the pleasure of Christopher Yates, local Metis Knowledge Keeper lead our school assembly. He filled our hearts with his teachings and the beautiful sound of his drum.

Submitted by Zoe Oppenheim, Aboriginal Academic Success Teacher at Brent Kennedy Elementary School