This year, at Canyon-Lister Elementary School, the students had so many great moments of learning and celebration in the Aboriginal Education Program. Here are a few of the highlights!

This spring, the grade 2/3 class decided that they wanted to put on a show, highlighting their talents and courageously stepping onto the stage in front of students, staff, and families. During lunchtime recess, the class planned and organized the show. We began the process by setting an intention for the group that included respect, support, and empowerment. The class explored these concepts by reading , a story written by Elizabeth Denny. The story centers around Jenneli, a young girl that thinks she is “nothing special” until her Grandma Lucee reminds her that her love and joy for Métis jigging is a gift she can share with the world. The love, support, and encouragement of Grandma Lucee and Jenneli’s courage was recognized by the grade 2/3 class, which they instilled into each lunchtime preparation, creating a relational and inclusive environment. Additionally, the class’s sense of community inspired them to raise money for PAWS, the local animal shelter. We celebrated the show’s success with a lunchtime party with snacks, songs, and dancing. The grade 2/3 show was a reminder to share our special gifts with our friends, family, and community and to feel a sense of pride for our cultural identity.

The grade 3/4/5 class has been learning about Indigenous groups from across Canada with their teacher Mr. Ewashen. We decided to look further into the creation story of the Ktunaxa People by listening to ʔaq̓am’s Nasuʔkin (Chief) Joe Pierre’s epic telling of how the animals worked together with the help of Naⱡmuqȼin to defeat Yawuʔnik̓. As the students listened to the story, they drew what they heard. We extended this exploration by re-telling the story from start to finish. Students eagerly raised their hand to add on to what the student before had contributed, carefully re-constructing the story while adding details that we forgot. We discovered that the Ktunaxa Creation Story included aspects of physical geography, language, biology, environmental change, and the powerful relational interactions that happen when we work together. It was a powerful learning experience enjoyed by all.

The lunchtime beading club continues to attract more and more students across grades. Ms. Rachel and Ms. DeBoon have been creating beautiful pieces of beaded artwork that inspire the beaders to keep showing up and hone their skills. Throughout the winter, one of the eager Grade 3 students (students generally do not join beading club until grade 5) served tea as she watched how the beaders carefully created their designs and completed their projects. The Grade 3 student implicitly learned the skills needed to begin her first project. The student is now in the position where she is passing along her knowledge to students in her class. Watching the student’s process of implicit learning and the transmission of this knowledge embodies the First Peoples Principles of Learning of holistic and relational, patience and time, and the roles and responsibilities of the learner.

The Pow Wow stood as the grand culmination of the year, as all the preparations leading up to this incredible celebration empowered students, staff, families, and community to embrace cultural identity and reflect on knowledge keepers from the past, present and future. Students in Grades 5, 6, and 7 prepared their regalia and practiced drumming, singing, and dancing to share in this celebration. The poster used to advertise the Pow Wow was created by a Canyon-Lister student which was exciting for everyone in her class to see their friend’s art displayed around town.

The Aboriginal Education Program at Canyon-Lister Elementary School has been a beacon of cultural celebration and learning. Through creative performances, storytelling, and beading, students have embraced their heritage with pride and shared their unique talents, fostering a sense of community and continuity with the past, present, and future. This year’s journey has been a testament to the power of education in nurturing respect, support, and empowerment among young learners.

Submitted by Jillian Newfield, Aboriginal Youth & Family Worker