As Spring arrives this month, we reflect deeply on Winter, a time of rest, storytelling, and being close to our Lodges. Winter holds many ceremonies. Feasting is one of them. This year, SD8 Indigenous Education programs hosted Winter Feasts.  Feasting is a time of gathering with families, community members, Elders and other invited folks. It is a way of coming together and celebrating.  Feasts are held for many different reasons and occasions and held at different times of the year. 

When I came into this district many moons ago, the Elder I worked with in the school I was hired at told me about the story and tradition of the Winter Feast in that school. They started it even more many moons ago than my arrival as a way of honouring Indigenous students and families and coming together as a community. 

In the past few years, Winter Feasts have been held in many schools across SD8. They have been small and intimate gatherings. Some have been just for students during a lunch block. Some have been events after school with invited families and guests. Some have been catered. Some have been just cookies and juice. Some have been celebrations and tea served by students for community Elders and Seniors. And some, during the covid times, have been bags of Bannock mix and herbal tea mixes sent home to all Indigenous families. Each school does their own unique feast and all of these feasts honour Indigenous traditions, practices and protocol that are long held in our communities.