Wolf Creek Public Schools introduces Culture Camps for Indigenous students

Students learn topics such as Métis history, traditional crafts and games, traditional dance, tipi teachings, and medicine wheel teachings.

WCPS added that schools across the division recently brought together students at camps hosted in Ponoka, Lacombe, and Blackfalds.

This past December, Indigenous students from Mecca Glen School, Bluffton School, Rimbey Elementary School and Rimbey Junior Senior High School travelled to Ponoka Elementary School for the Culture Camp.

During that time, students focused on cultural topics taught directly by Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and Indigenous teachers.

(Image Credit: Wolf Creek Public Schools/Supplied)

Maskwacis Cree Elder Josephine Small said engaging youth in cultural teachings has been rewarding.

“Carrying out the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action in this way, I feel, has reached far more students than we could have imagined instead of being in a classroom setting,” she said.

Meanwhile, Maskwacis Cree Elder Bert agreed that students are being guided back to their cultural identity.

“The blood memory is waking up for these students. Blood memory is real, and it continues to flow, but the students need to understand by feeling it.”

The WCPS Indigenous Education and Reconciliation team explained they plan to continue to implement Culture Camps, as well as another version of cultural teachings called “Mini Camps” throughout the Division.

by rdnewsNOW staff

Wolf Creek Public Schools introduces Culture Camps for Indigenous students

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