Students explore Indigenous culture
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/09/2023 (1085 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
As Truth and Reconciliation Week unfolded in Brandon, young minds embarked on a journey to the past, immersing themselves in the rich tapestry of Indigenous culture and history.
“I made the children see the richness of our culture and what our people persevered or what our people went through and the endurance that our people had back in the day,” knowledge keeper Eugene Ross told the Sun.
Ross’ words resonated with the students, who were captivated by his tales of hard work and resilience while he spoke at the Riverbank Discovery Centre. He vividly described the labour involved in preparing for winter — drying foods, gathering medicines, and preserving the way of life.
“They’re all excited about it,” he noted, referring to the enthusiastic response from the young audience.
“Normally I’m pretty tired on Fridays because I’m just ready for the weekend. But now I’m excited to come to school,” said Thomas Cooper, a student at Tanner’s Crossing Elementary School in Minnedosa.
Cooper expressed his excitement about this unique educational opportunity, as he marvelled at the hard work and absence of modern technology in the past and acknowledged that life without smartphones and gadgets might not be as daunting as it seems.
Cooper’s classmate, Harley Traverse, also shared his enthusiasm. He was particularly fascinated by the softness of wolfskin and looked forward to returning to the site if given the opportunity.
Ross added that the Truth and Reconciliation Week site provided a glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of Indigenous communities throughout history.
Sam Jackson of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation demonstrates a traditional dance for students.
Knowledge keeper Debbie Huntinghawk explained that the central objective of the event is teaching the true history of what happened to Indigenous peoples and that her family history is a testament to the lasting effects of colonization and the residential school system.
“In order for us to heal, we need to have a true history of what happened in residential schools and what happened to our Indigenous peoples,” she said.
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Shirley Brightnose, an administrative assistant with Jordan's Principle, cooks bannock for students on a third day of educational programming for Westman students during Truth and Reconciliation Week at the Riverbank Discovery Centre. The federal government is failing First Nations children, and putting their well-being in jeopardy. It needs to provide the leadership, commitment and resources required to fix this problem as quickly as possible, and ensure it never happens again, Brandon Sun columnist Deveryn Ross writes. (File)
Raven Willoughby, an Indigenous education learning specialist for the Brandon School Division, teaches students from Wawanesa School on Friday at the Riverbank Discovery Centre.
Trapper Grant Armstrong show students a variety of furs during Truth and Reconciliation Week programming at the Riverbank Discovery Centre on Friday.