With Aboriginal Day a little more than a month away, Glenbow School is preparing to celebrate First Nations culture by erecting the first full-sized traditional Stoney Nakoda teepee on the school grounds in June.
With Aboriginal Day a little more than a month away, Glenbow School is preparing to celebrate First Nations culture by erecting the first full-sized traditional Stoney Nakoda teepee on the school grounds in June.
“We celebrate the day with natives and have lots of kids dancing - fancy, traditional, and jingle dress, I dance that one, ” said Raycine, a 10-year-old Glenbow School student.
What started more than two decades ago as a family picnic to honour and celebrate First Nations culture at the school has now turned into a full-blown celebration on June 2. Students from all backgrounds are invited to attend workshops teaching Aboriginal history while recognizing the day with a traditional powwow and bannock.
“Fear of difference is one of the reasons why sharing (cultures) is so important, ” said Colleen Heschl-Ball, a Glenbow teacher.
“It also gives the kids a sense of pride - for those kids who are so shy and reserved, this is their day to shine. ”
In previous years during the celebrations, staff invited youth from the school to show their skills through dance and drumming. Students Tatiana, 10, and Cody, 11, who have participated in Aboriginal Day as performers said their favourite part of the day is the dancing and food.
“It's fun, ” Cody said.
Tatiana also noted that elders are always served first at celebrations and events, as a sign of respect.
Last year, the students and staff at Glenbow started working with elder Virgil Stevens from Stoney Nakoda First Nation discussing how to make a traditional teepee (spelled tipi for the Stoney people) and started working with more elders and Stoney residents this week to prepare the full-sized teepee for the June celebration.
“With every culture there is beauty, it enhances ones life … and it is important to educate, ” said Brendan Trinca, principal of Glenbow School.
Elders and staff volunteers cut the canvas on Monday and started sewing it together on Wednesday. Students were also invited out on May 15 for a question and answer about traditional teepees.
Elders asked the Eagle not to share specific and intimate details about teepee making as the traditions and story telling are considered sacred for the Stoney people, but they did note each teepee had its own unique style.
This will be the first year Glenbow School will have a full-size teepee for the Aboriginal Day. The Town of Cochrane approved the building of the structure at a council meeting earlier this year.
While June 2 is the day the school sets aside to invite parents and community residents to come and celebrate First Nations history, Trinca said this First Nations cultural learning is integrated throughout the school year.
“Learning history is important - it tells us where we come from, ” Heschl-Ball said.
