‘Quest for Knowledge’ promotes aboriginal issues

Crossroads School in Devlin may have walked away from the second-annual “Quest for Knowledge” with top honours yesterday but all 160 participants left with a better understanding of native culture.
Wilfred Cyr, director of Educational Support Services for the Seven Generations Education Institute here, said “Quest for Knowledge” is mainly to promote native curriculum content and culture in the community.
“The information we provide is wide in coverage, and who or what we promote is always from or towards a native perspective,” said Cyr.
Gary Medicine, native education counsellor at Fort Frances High School, agreed the event emphasizes and explores aboriginal issues.
“It was good,” he said. “This [event] gives an opportunity for kids to exercise Ojibway current events regarding aboriginal issues.”
“Quest for Knowledge” promotes aboriginal issues, and addresses the literacy and communication barrier between different cultures.
“We are trying to promote literacy among children and elders so there will be clearer communication,” explained Cyr. “The community/public needs to know about the language barrier.
“We are trying to promote both languages, Anishinaabemowin and English,” he noted.
Cyr said organizers of “Quest for Knowledge” work co-operatively with the Northwest Catholic District School Board and the First Nations school board to provide new information to students in interesting forms, such as videos, newspapers, and treaties.
“Quest for Knowledge” co-ordinator Denise Bluebird doesn’t think the interest is lacking from the students. “Many of the students enjoy the winning and the recognition of it,” said Bluebird.
A few of the grade five-eight students who took part agreed the event was a competitive and learning experience.
“It is a learning experience . . . but sort of both competitive and learning,” said Shawn Kelly of St. Francis School here.
Julianne McGinnis, who attends Donald Young School in Emo, said she enjoys this event. “I learned more about something I didn’t already know,” she remarked.
Kristina Bombay, also from Donald Young School, said because of “Quest for Knowledge,” she was learning her native language.
Meanwhile, organizers like Bluebird are hoping it will continue for at least the next five years.
With 160 students on hand, Cyr said there were more participants in attendance than anticipated although that number was down by 25 compared to the inaugural “Quest for Knowledge” last year.
“The event has been a tremendous success . . . the organizers put on an entertaining show,” he noted. “It must have been successful because we were prepared to feed 400 and we ran out of food.”
“In the first year, we invited everyone . . . this year, we were more organized so we limited each school to one team per division,” Bluebird noted.
There were two divisions–one for grades five/six and the other for seven/eight students. Ten area schools entered the event, making up 18 teams of six members each.
The estimated cost of the event is $10,000.
“The schools do have to pre-register but there is no registration fee for anyone,” Cyr stressed. “The Anishinaabe culture trait is to give to our community and we are giving 100 percent.”
In this event, organizers shied away from labelling the “winners” as places. Rather, they decided to give them honours in each division.
In Division I (grade seven/eight), Crossroad took first honours, followed by Lac La Croix School, Mikinaak Onigamiing, and Bai-Bom-Beh Anishinaabe School.
In Division II (grade five/six), first honours also went to Crossroads School, followed by Mine Centre School, Bai-Bom-Beh Anishinaabe School, and Huffman School.