MINDEMOYA—A Central Manitoulin Public School (CMPS) (Mindemoya) student is one of the winners of the Rainbow District School Board (RDSB) traditional harvest celebration exhibition final.
The winners of the harvest celebration and exhibition finale included Jolie Labranche, a Grade 8 student at CMPS. “Jolie won for her entry in the Creative Expression-Rock Collection category,” said Melissa Brandon, CMPS principal. She explained Jolie’s entry was one that she had entered into the CMPS fall fair. “Jolie wanted to create this creative art expression as she was interested in demonstrating what she had learned.”
Presented by RDSB Environmental Education Committee and Indigenous Education Department, entries from all school fall fairs were showcased at the exhibition finale.
Community harvesters, agriculturalists, botanists and environmental advocates joined students from Rainbow schools to share their skills and knowledge about the benefits of traditional harvesting and local farming.
The theme, Reclaiming the Harvest, was inspired by Anishinaabe author Robin Wall Kimmerer (who is from the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and wrote the book ‘Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults’) who joined schools virtually this past spring.
“Indigenous perspectives have been fundamental to our work in environmental education,” said RDSB director of education Bruce Bourget. “Through fall fairs, school communities gained a deeper understanding of our relationship with the land.”
To prepare their entries, staff and students explored the Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants within Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book.
Entry categories included indigenous traditional craft, baking and cooking, vegetables, creative expression, flowers and plants and teachers’ choice in classroom.
“I extend congratulations to staff and students for the creativity displayed at our inaugural Traditional Harvest Celebration,” said Director Bourget. “The projects were a reflection of our collective commitment to value and care for our planet, Mother Earth, Shkagamikwe.”
