Taanishi! Way!

This year at Salmo Elementary we have focused our learning on the power of storytelling, one of the oldest and most important ways of teaching across Turtle Island. Students have had opportunities to hear local creation stories, along with other creation stories from various Nations across Turtle Island. These teachings continue to help us understand our responsibilities to each other, to the land, and the interconnectedness of all things.

So far we’ve explored various stories from our local area such as the Legend of Frog Mountain and the story of how the Columbia River came to be. We have also explored other Indigenous stories from various regions, such as the creation story of Skywoman and Turtle Island, and various coastal Trickster tails. These stories help students see that the land holds knowledge, and that stories can guide how we understand ourselves and our relationships with others and our relationships with the land.

A significant part of our work has also been dedicated to language revitalization, honouring the voices and knowledge embedded within Indigenous languages. We have been learning introductory parts of n̓səl̓xčin̓ (Nyslxčin / Colville-Okanagan), the language of the Sinixt people, and Michif, a language of the Métis Nation, blending Cree, French, and unique Métis linguistic traditions. We have been working with these languages to learn basic greetings and simple conversations, as well as incorporating them into games. 

This year we are also exploring traditional foods such as pemmican and bannock. These foods connect us to the culture, resilience, and generosity of Indigenous Peoples across generations. Next week, we are excited to share that we will be making bannock for the whole school. This will be a time for us to gather, feast, and celebrate the learning we have shared. We look forward to bringing everyone together in a spirit of community and gratitude.

As we continue into the year ahead, we remain committed to creating learning spaces where Indigenous knowledge is lived, respected, and celebrated every day.