Aboriginal Education Symposium

Practicum started the last week of October and we were also given the opportunity to attend professional development.  During this time I was presented with the opportunity to attend the Aboriginal Education Symposium.  Here we were exposed to many workshops and informational sessions about all that School District 57 has to offer in regards to Aboriginal Education. For the opening dinner the entertainment was an elder from Cree nation who serenaded the audience with his many musical talents.  The variety throughout his presentation seemed limitless.  From traditional drumming and singing to fiddle and guitar. Winston Wuttnee is a renowned Cree entertainer and respected Elder. Wuttunee’s songs carry strong messages of cultural pride to help his people through difficult situations such as suicide, lost identity and drug and alcohol abuse. Storytelling is his method of reaching out and sharing traditional knowledge. 

Although there were many wise and knowledgeable speakers, one of the things that stuck out to me was this elder’s necklace.  As many of you may have participated in the Orange shirt day on September 30 in recognition of the harm done to children by the residential school system, and as an affirmation to ensure that every child matters as all involved continue through the reconciliation journey. This can be a difficult issue to teach effectively.  But this elder’s necklace and the idea that is represented made this issue seem less threatening, powerful and still kid friendly. 

Along the outside she had something written that i cannot recall, but I was thinking that repeating what is on the front, the name of a residential school antennae that you know, or September 30 to commemorate Orange Shirt Day would be add to the personal details of this necklace.  Th reason that this necklace was so fascinating was the potential it had as an activity to help make this very mature topic understandable by all.