Winter moves us to gather around fires, in our lodges and cozy under warm blankets at home. We settle in to listen to stories, the words of Elders and story tellers. We listen to the stories of our Ancestors who have been on these Lands since time immemorial. We listen to the stories from the last year. Those stories of success are celebrated and the stories of loss are held in comfort. We move into ceremony to celebrate the light, strengthening our collective circle.

Throughout SD8, Aboriginal Education programs have celebrated and honoured these winter times.

Out on the Land learning about respect through firemaking and Bannock cooking at Trafalgar. Students and staff gathered for hot immune boosting rosehip tea at LVR and shared treats with our friends and allies. WEG celebrated gifting and drummed together. Students at Blewett and Redfish learned about the many words for snow the Inuit have and made six pointed snow flakes. Students at Hume and Rosemont learned through the Coyote Solstice Tale about sharing our greatest gifts through singing, dancing, kindness and generosity. Gifting to students and families has taken place at Erickson and staff and students will gather to sing songs and celebrate the season with families and community. Students at Canyon Lister are learning about winter physical activities that First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people did to keep active during the winter months.  Salmo Elementary students are learning about the teachings of the Wolf this month and Salmo Secondary students are connecting with teachings of a Grandmother drum at their school. Aboriginal Education students across our District have learned and connected through story, song, physical activity, food, fire, and identity. We are grateful for the connections we have with the Land, with knowledge keepers, with Elders, with families, with guardians, and with each other.  All schools across the district continued to focus on winter teachings leading up to the holidays!

Monique Gray Smith shares from her new book, Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults:

The Chapter, Witch Hazel is a beautiful retelling of the relationship between Robin Wall Kimmerer and a neighbour named Hazel. It's a heartfelt story of reciprocal and caring relationships and about kindness and connection in unexpected places. In the story, Hazel reminds us, "that there's always somthin' good even when it seems like there ain't. It just lightens your heavy heart, is what it does." And my favourite line in the story: "There is no hurt that can't be healed by love."

The District Aboriginal Education team sends the warmest thoughts to all families and staff during the winter holidays.  We wish everyone times of comfort and rest, like the bear relatives, our bodies need this time to recharge as well.  Over the holidays, may we all find the sentiments of story and deep listening as we continue to appreciate the stories of these beautiful, snow-topped ands.

Gail Higginbottom, Jesse Halton, Danica Weager