DYS staff and students celebrated Earth Day and Native Awareness Week back on April 24.
The day began in a large group with a presentation regarding respect for Mother Earth by guest speaker Elvis DeBungie and group. From there, the students split into multi-age groupings and went from one activity to another.
Various activity centres included cooking bannock over the fire, demonstrated by Dorothy Medicine and Kim Olsen. Meanwhile, Wilma Esselink held a story-telling and reading session in the kindergarten room.
Josie and Tina Leonard led a project entitled, “God’s Eye,” and a filmstrip on maple sap collecting was seen.
Sherri Allan and Susanne Soucy, in Grade 4-5 rooms, showed a video on Tatonka. Outside, Kerri Tolen demonstrated to students all about lacrosse and how it is played.
Tina and Roseanne Leonard had a fire going to cook wild rice, which was sampled to everyone’s delight who took part.
The Grade 1 room featured a demonstration by Tina McGinnis and Charleen Gustafson on beading, including how the colourful tiny beads are assembled and inserted.
Adriana Schultz and Rod Enns explained to students how to make paper transplanting pots and the way they are used with seedlings.
The last project on the agenda was head dresses being designed by Helen Mose and Mari-Ann DeGroot, winding down the day-long lessons on Earth Day celebrations.
Students then assembled in the gym and listened to Charleen Gustafson give an accountant on what the day was all about–giving thanks to the Creator for this Earth we enjoy every day to its fullest.
Everyone participated with enthusiasm, and even the weatherman co-operated.
“All I Have Seen Teaches Me To Trust the Creator For All I Have Not Seen.” (Emerson)
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
