A celebration of culture, tolerance and education was part of Bashaw School’s all-day event on National Indigenous People’s Day on June 21.
Teacher Kyle McIntosh spearheaded the idea, having been inspired by a pair of what he called formative moments in his life.
“I brought in a number of indigenous themes to the school this year because it matched with the professional learning I’ve engaged in from the time I entered university,” he said.
“One was the only time I learned about First Nations, Métis and Inuit was in a school field trip to the Glenbow Museum in Calgary. I saw a lovely exhibit about Blackfoot people that presented them as historical footnotes, in a much bigger section with the Ancient Romans and the Samurai.
“The other was when a university colleague dragged me to the Truth and Reconciliation hearings in Lethbridge. It was a profound day hearing from Indigenous peoples about the abuses they faced at residential schools. I was outraged I never learned about this previously and committed to incorporating it into all I do.”
There were a number of activities held throughout the day, from games to storytelling to a special project. An elder, Myrna Yellowbird, from Maskwacis was also on hand and took part by answering questions plus talking to students.
“It’s great to be able to come and hopefully help the students draw insight by sharing our knowledge, culture and beliefs as well as by looking at how similar we are and not our differences.” she said.
“One little girl didn’t know there were Indigenous people.”
Learn and Share
The biggest and most rewarding part came with the students going through a blanket exercise.
“It serves to accomplish one major thing for us — every student, every staff member now has a shared experience and shared language in which they can move forward with. For me personally, I led the Grades 1 to 3 in their exercise and the insights those kids offered were profound,” McIntosh said.
“Across all divisions I heard, again and again, about how this format is a powerful way to teach. But it’s not the exercise where the heavy lifting is done, but rather the sharing circle at the end. Our students are very empathetic and they wore their hearts on their sleeves.”
He added that the day is part of the school’s broader commitment to reconciliation, a long journey to ensure future generations learn from and reflect on the past.
“You have to remember, the residential schools were in operation in some parts within my lifetime. I have friends who went to the tail end of that system, who are only now beginning to open up about their experiences,” McIntosh said.
“Such a day then, is organized as part of a broader commitment to make sure that this generation never experiences the same ignorance I had of Canada’s history.”
To go along with that, the hope was for the day’s experience to spark a bigger movement at the school.
“We have indigenous children in our schools who could go their entire academic careers without seeing their culture or heritage reflected anywhere,” added McIntosh.
“In launching such a commitment to reconciliation on a day of celebration, I hoped to show that reconciliation comes in many forms. There needs to be a head and heart connection — which is fostered by laughing together, hearing stories from an elder and by recognizing our own dark history.”
McIntosh believes the benefit will come through daily work instead of just one day’s worth of focus.
“This day was a spark to a much larger fire and the best work done in schools is always in the daily grind,” he stated.
He noted that Alberta Education’s new curriculum presently under development will include mandated instruction and integration of First Nations, Metis and Inuit culture, history and learning into all subjects and grade levels.
