sharing

Studies done for this term, so I'm halfway to the Masters ... it was an enlightening course this term; a real eye-opener to what is NOT in education for First Nations. So I'll just keep trying to open doors one at a time.
 I was very proud of the group from N'Amerind when they came to sing and dance for the whole school body at Little Falls this week. The teachers, principal and all were also very impressed. This was a presentation paid for by a service group and that is becoming more common in schools where I have recently been. The next one in Stratford is also being sponsored by the parent volunteers. The fact that school boards do not have a mandate to teach First Nations studies keeps them from being progressive with our shared history in this province and most of the country. B.C. has the first and best province-wide First Nations School Authority which integrates our cultural ways into the mainstream education system.
We all need this knowledge in a basic form from primary onward if we are to be proud of who we are and where we fit in this country and its contemporary life. As we've heard before: you can't know where you're going if you don't know where you've been. And where we've been is in the dark!
Let's shine the light of knowledge, sharing and understanding and give ourselves and those yet to lead us, pride in this country and its indigenous roots.
Why do so many of the world's people want to come to this country? Because it is based on a caring, giving nature, developed from the relationship of our First Peoples toward those who came to Turtle Island looking for a better way of life. We need to nurture and regain the spirit of the Treaties. ... tane: tho!

I must say n^kiwa Yukinu:lha ... see you Mother/Aunt ... her moccasins are empty now. She was such an advocate for our ways and encouraged all attempts we made for higher education; especially for those of us who walk the red road. You will be missed.

good workshops

I had a terrific time yesterday and today with grades 5-7 students.
While one 'clan' enjoyed learning from the variety of centres: turtle calendar puzzles, word play/language tools with stamps for Oneida words, Travel Turtle Island game and others, my group made corn husk dolls or wampum strings over the two days. Students were respectful and I trust we made good friendships. [shout out to Kaswentha]. I'll be curious to know what their responses will be to the short questionaire I left. Thanks so much to the teachers who invited me and the students who were also so gracious ;).

When we brought the tree in, the weather was freezing, so I also wanted to bring in the ceramic turtle I'd had in the garden. It seemed natural to place it under the tree ... just need the eagle atop now eh? I usually bring in a cedar for xmas season but this year we came upon this 'pine' at the right price, so now we have the symbol that is so familiar to Hotenoshone: the white pine, the symbol of peace, our medicine atop 'turtle island'/N. America. Now I'd like to make the clans and other symbols to hang on the tree ... elements of our opening address: K^tsyokhwa/the people, Yukhinu:lha/Mother Earth, Onu'kwat/medicines etc.

Wasu:tehs

What a great weekend ;) ... met more neighbours and enjoyed family and friends who dropped by during open house ...and yummy Indian cookies!
After making more cookies this morning, it was time to get back to making more iris folded and layered cards for family & friends this Wasu:tehs /Long Nights, a season for storytelling and giving.

These are some of the cool bone beads and turquoise I purchased in T.O. I've turned the beads into these beautiful bracelets and necklaces shown here ... look forward to the "studio sale" this Sat. & Sun. Dec. 3 & 4 10 - 2 [-ish as the kids say] ... hope to have fresh Indian cookies too!

Met fine folks at the 3 day Circle of Light Aboriginal Education Conference in T.O. I think the most inspirational parts were hearing the student panels. Those kids are so courageous and dedicated ... some had such difficulties trying to stay in school, having to leave their families to stay with strangers while attending schools that were much larger, more populated and far from familiar things. Most adults wouldn't want to endure such challenges even for a good job! I attended some workshops about various things some of the northern communities are doing infusing local culturally-based knowledge into the curriculum, learned more about PLC's [professional learning committees] as well as reaquainted and made new friendships. Now I have more clarity about what is being done [or not as usual with fed. funding] for and with our First Nations students to help them receive meaningful and relevant education that will result in them having good employment prospects. My perceptions of what the Ont. Ministry of Ed. needs to do was made even more clear with regard to delivering programming to new teachers and especially the boards' duties to provide all students with a wider knowledge of our shared history and current practises in native communities. ... all in all, a good conference where more sharing than usual was expressed.