ESTEVAN - Students from three Estevan schools learned more about First Nations peoples in Canada during an Indigenous Education Day on Thursday at Spruce Ridge School.
Spruce Ridge principal Cheri Haberstock said approximately 620 students converged on the school, with students from Westview and Hillcrest Schools also attending.
"It's such an exciting time that we had all of these people here from our community and from outside of Estevan as well, just sharing their knowledge, sharing their culture with us. It was absolutely awesome," said Haberstock.
Much of the school was in use during the afternoon. A giant treaty floor map – set up by Raquel Bellefleur, who is SECPSD's instructional coach for Indigenous and treaty education – was located in the kindergarten to Grade 2 room.
Many of the speakers had connections to southeast Saskatchewan. Tawney Johnson, who is of Cree descent and an employee of the Lampman Public Library, led the Medicine Wheel story pit; Jill Ruep, who traces her Métis ancestry back to the 18th century in Saskatchewan, talked about the Métis language, culture and values; Camryn Murray, a Michif from Estevan and a Spruce Ridge alum, talked about Metis dot art; Misti Big Eagle-Bayliss of the Ocean Man First Nations discussed Indigenous artifacts from the southeast; Linda Sopp, who is the president of the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan in Estevan, talked about Métis culture and traditions; Gil and Peggy Wasacase of the Kahkewistahaw First Nation talked Indigenous medicines, smudging, beadwork; and Parker Schmaltz discussed hunting practices.
"A lot of them brought in things for the students to see and touch. One of our speakers talked about traditional medicines and how important those are in First Nations culture," said Haberstock.
The presentation on hunting also looked at the importance of animals for Indigenous cultures, she said. Another speaker brought "beautiful" leather goods made with porcupine quills and beadwork. Students saw lots of dream catchers and smelled sage.
Several Métis speakers spoke of the people and all of their cultural traditions.
"It was just a full day of learning. Our students, unfortunately, were not able to go to every single station, but each class got to go to three of the stations," said Haberstock.
Hoop dancer Trent Littletent showcased his skills and culture for the students. He performed for Westview and Hillcrest students, and was to entertain the Spruce Ridge kids, but was called away to an emergency. Videos of Indigenous culture were shown instead.
"It's so much more meaningful when they get to see somebody talking about their culture, to see someone performing a dance from their culture," said Haberstock.
He was also at Pleasantdale School earlier in the day.
While the closest reserve to Estevan is nearly an hour away, during the planning efforts for the education day, Haberstock realized there are a lot of Indigenous people in the Estevan area. There is a "huge" Métis population in this part of the province, she said.
"I find a lot of people I talk to, they didn't realize they were Métis or they're just learning that they're Métis, and they're becoming very proud of that, and they're eager to share because they're trying to learn about their own culture as well."
Truth and reconciliation won't occur until people learn more, she said.
Haberstock pointed out she didn't learn anything about residential schools or Indigenous peoples and their culture when she was younger. She learned a lot from the presentations she was able to hear.
"I think it's really important that our children today learn more than we ever did."
The event received $4,500 from Affinity Credit Union, which covered honourariums for the speakers and stickers for the kids that said "Reconciliation is Learning", and Kingston Midstream showed their support as well.
