M’CHIGEENG—Students at Lakeview School held a Cultural Day in the school gymnasium where they displayed the projects they had researched on their chosen heritage topics. The topics spanned subjects as varied as traditional foods, moccasin and drum making and favourite Anishinaabe hockey players.
The buzz in the room was electric as excited students from junior grades right up to Grade 8 explained their projects to caregivers, friends and community members.
The Cultural Day event was coordinated by teacher Patty Debassige, who took the lead on the project in celebration of Indigenous History Month. “Our students were very excited to create something that shows a part of their history they are proud of,” she said.
Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Glen Hare dropped by to check out the displays and offer support to one of his eight grandchildren, Owen, who attends Lakeview just as Chief Hare did in his youth. Owen’s project featured the storied biography of his grandfather. “I am excited to be here, I am excited I made it home to watch all the activity,” he said. “This is where I went to school. There are a bunch of booths here and the students put them together themselves.”
Young Edison proudly explained the many important properties of the sacred medicine giizhik (cedar) in great detail and had plenty of cup of delicious and healthy cedar tea on offer to visitors at his booth.
Drummaker and senior student Guy had a series of hand drums, drumsticks and a great drum on display. Guy and a group of his compatriots took their places at the drum to provide a couple of songs. Drum songs are learned through listening and actually playing the songs, an oral history that has passed down through generations.
“This is where it begins,” said Chief Hare. “You can see the excited students in the background behind me. Our students are talking at a very young age.” Chief Hare will be travelling the territories fulfilling the role of giving out awards and recognition to celebrate citizens who have achieved their goals.
“We need to support each and every one of them,” he said. “We need to stand behind each and every one of them, and if they have to travel or leave home, the support has to be there for them from the community and in the home. The rewards are there for them.”
