Art/Performance Archives - Page 4 of 11

Mariel Belanger – Sqilxw Apna: The N’sis;ooloxw Project

Posted on March 22, 2019 by kenthenthomas

Mariel is a warrior for; education, traditions, knowledge, the arts, herself, family, others and everything.

Mariel Belanger is a remarkable woman from Vernon BC and is from the Sylix Nation. She tells of her society that focuses on Indigenous knowledge and traditions. She gives us what her vision is for education wholly which might be seen as transcendent at the very least. Everything that she does is attached and attracted to each and every other part of her life where no one thing is more important than the other, yet she manages it all.

Community Elder Perspective – Albina Cardinal

Posted on March 18, 2019 by Pam Greene

Elder, Albina Cardinal believes that a curriculum that is infused with Indigenous history makes progress in the healing and understanding of Indigenous communities.

Albina Cardinal is an Elder and a residential school survivor. She enjoys the opportunity to interact with students and share her experiences at residential school with students (K-3) and teachers. Cardinal has presented to teachers on professional development days held at the High Level school. These presentations provide educators with opportunities to ask questions about being a residential school survivor and teaches the students about the history of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Cardinal believes that it is important to learn about Indigenous history and language in order to reclaim Indigenous languages. She shared a story of when she was young and the many things she learned from her parents when she was home in the summer, fall and sometimes winter. She fondly remembers her mom making her brothers and sisters a pair of moccasins to wear at residential school when they had to return.

Indigenous Teacher Perspective – Penny Cardinal-Kotash

Posted on by Pam Greene

Audio interview with Indigenous Educator Penny Cardinal-Kotash perspective from Treaty 8, High Level, Alberta.

Penny Cardinal-Kotash is a Indigenous Teacher who teaches in High Level, Alberta. She is passionate about teaching students and infuses Indigenous education throughout the Language Arts, Social Studies, and Math curriculum. She utilizes her own experience to help students learn about the Cree culture but of other Indigenous cultures. Mrs. Kotash explains that Indigenous students need to see themselves in everyday society, to learn that Indigenous peoples have always been here, and to learn about their own culture and others in which each are a part of Canada’s fabric. She helps other Educators in the Division and encourages them to choose and identify where the literature originates from, as well as the region they belong to, to ensure it’s relevancy for their region. Penny Cardinal-Kotash is part of the Division’s FNMI cohort and provides resources, and support to understand we are not all the same culture and to base their teachings relative to the language and its region.

Neecheewam Inc. – Whole Person Learning

Posted on March 13, 2019 by Jeremiah Sharpe

Cheyenne Chartrand, Spiritual Care Provider at Neecheewam Inc., explains Neecheewam’s approach to education.

Neecheewam Inc. goes beyond pedagogical programs in an effort to redefine concepts of treatment, emphasizing cohort and peer education through an “extended family” that results in whole person learning. Whole person learning requires moving beyond the text book to include academic, professional, emotional, and spiritual growth.

Neecheewam Inc. – White Butterfly Program

Posted on March 11, 2019 by Jeremiah Sharpe

Neecheewam’s White Butterfly Program works with young people to improve their lives.

Neecheewam’s White Butterfly Program sees child behaviour as another language that need to be learned. Their staff look at the children they work with as a whole, an important philosophical concept of Indigenous education, which they believe to be an integrated component of daily life.

Artisanat dans l’école à Unamen Shipu

Posted on by Catherine Charest

Ce programme vise l’inclusion de l’artisanat innu en milieu scolaire. L’artisanat est inclus en tout temps dans les écoles primaires et secondaires de la communauté d’Unamen shipu (La Romaine) afin de préserver et de transmettre l’art innu. This story is not available in English. Please select another language option.

This story is not available in English. Please select another language option.

Principal, Dene Tha’ Community School

Posted on March 6, 2019 by Pam Greene

The Principal of the Dene Tha Community School, Carlito Somera, discusses the school’s commitment to holding fall and winter Cultural Camps for students in grades 4-12.

Carlito Somera is the Principal of the Dene Tha Community School located in Treaty 8, in the community of Chateh, Alberta, northwest of High Level. Somera discusses the Dene Tha’s Cultural Camps offered both in the fall and winter. During the fall camp, students from Grades 4-12 attend the Cultural Camp held over a five day period. There are many academic outcomes that are attached to the Cultural Camps. High school students earn and gain credits as part of the curriculum.

This land-based learning portion of the curriculum includes the Dene language and culture. With the leadership and support of local Dene hunters and language specialists, students learn how to prepare, cut, and dry meat. Students also participate in other cultural activities such as berry picking, willow gathering, storytelling, and playing traditional hand games. In the winter, the Cultural Camp is held at Bistcho Lake. Students travel by vehicle on ice roads to the summertime fly-in fishing location and stay in cabins during their visit. Some of the cultural activities taught are how to ice fish.

Community Elder Perspective – Peter Cardinal

Posted on by Pam Greene

Indigenous education is important, not only for those who carry on traditional ways, but for Indigenous lawyers and politicians who would be better able to advocate for Indigenous peoples.

Peter Cardinal is an Elder from the Tallcree First Nation and has experience attending a Separate Day School. He shares his experience of going to a Day School and the impact of trying to learn English as a Cree person. Cardinal is an advocate for attending school to attain an education. He has presented at the school in High Level to share his knowledge, experience, and his passion for playing the fiddle. He stresses the importance of education in making life choices and hopes that hearing him share his experience works towards healing. Cardinal enjoys meeting students and sharing stories and music. He explained that the younger students ask a few questions and are really interested in his fiddle playing.

Nikamu Mamuitun – Chansons rassembleuses

Posted on February 28, 2019 by Catherine Charest

Ce projet consiste à un spectacle d’artiste autochtones et québécois. Les membres du groupes tentent de faire valoir l’importance de la langue innue par une représentation musicale à travers le Québec. Cette initiative souhaite entre autre créer la réconciliation entre les Premières Nations et le Québec. This story is not available in English. Please […]

This story is not available in English. Please select another language option.

Jingle dresses, moccasins, math, and science: There’s room at Opikihiwawin to learn about it all

Posted on February 27, 2019 by Richard Stecenko

Opikihiwawin’s programs create a positive sense of identity and belonging and help adoptees and foster people build relationships in the Aboriginal community.

Based on Dr. Martin Brokenleg’s theory of reclaiming youth at risk, Opikihiwawin helps Aboriginal adoptees find where they belong and helps them on their journey home. ”We have a wide range of programs for fostered and adopted youth,” says Darlene Daniels. “The goal is to find their sense of self-identity, where they belong, and what their gifts and talents are.” Opikihiwawin has partnered with the University of Manitoba and arranged for Indigenous people in various programs like medicine or dentistry to mentor and tutor young people so that they flourish in school and are not intimidated by math and science.

The paintings, Super Hero, Parenting, Education, and Language, were created by Opikihiwawin participants; they were inspired by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action.