Staff at KSA国际影视传媒檃tlSA国际影视传媒檕deeche First NationSA国际影视传媒檚 Chief Sunrise Education Centre have been making a collective effort to reinforce Indigenous identity and culture among students.
The schoolSA国际影视传媒檚 annual Christmas concert was a strong indication that those efforts have been fruitful, according to principal Dr. Deborah Reid.
SA国际影视传媒淭he practice of Indigenizing pedagogy has been talked about for many years,SA国际影视传媒� said Reid, who has worked at the school since 2017, and previously held positions in Inuvik, Yellowknife and Nunavut. SA国际影视传媒淚n the last few years weSA国际影视传媒檝e really had a concerted effort of doing that across the territory.
SA国际影视传媒淚 think itSA国际影视传媒檚 a long process, but I see it [happening],SA国际影视传媒� she added.
The Chief Sunrise Education Centre Christmas concert occurred on Dec. 20, and featured a drumming performance from the schoolSA国际影视传媒檚 male students.
Boys at the school have been learning to make and play traditional drums since 2021, when local Elder and drum-maker Phillip Fabian passed away.
SA国际影视传媒淲hen he passed, we all looked at each other and said, SA国际影视传媒榃ho knows how to do this now?SA国际影视传媒� Reid recalled. SA国际影视传媒淲e talked to a few Elders and got some men together and managed to have some drum-making workshops for all of our boys to learn to make their own drums.SA国际影视传媒�
Soon after launching the drum-making program for boys, the school launched a similar program that teaches girls to make the traditional skirts that are common in several Indigenous cultures. Each girl was allowed to customize their skirt based on their familySA国际影视传媒檚 heritage, and the Christmas concert marked the first opportunity to show off their creations.
SA国际影视传媒淭he intent is that youSA国际影视传媒檙e wearing your skirt with honour and pride,SA国际影视传媒� Reid said. SA国际影视传媒淭he girls were really proud.SA国际影视传媒�
The schoolSA国际影视传媒檚 Christmas concert was open to the community. Close to 150 people attended, including several local Elders who helped with the drum and skirt-making workshops. Everyone seemed to be pleased, from ReidSA国际影视传媒檚 vantage point.
SA国际影视传媒淚 think they enjoy seeing this,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 hear lots of comments. TheySA国际影视传媒檙e very grateful.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e a small, little community and we suffered the fires and the flood. We lost homes,SA国际影视传媒� she continued. SA国际影视传媒淚f our school can bring a little bit of joy and heritage back to a community that suffered, there canSA国际影视传媒檛 be anything wrong with that. The community is starting to see our school as a place where they feel comfortable.SA国际影视传媒�
The education centreSA国际影视传媒檚 efforts to rejuvenate Indigenous identity among students are also helping to keep young people interested in school, according to Reid.
SA国际影视传媒淢otivation to come to school is something weSA国际影视传媒檝e struggled with over the years in the North, especially through residential schooling and the negative legacy of that,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e trying to draw kids in. If we can do that while meeting the goal of Indigenizing our pedagogy and making things very relevant to kids, then weSA国际影视传媒檝e kind of hit two birds with one stone.SA国际影视传媒�
After the success of the Christmas concert, Reid hopes to continue on with the schoolSA国际影视传媒檚 drum and skirt-making workshops. She also hopes to introduce other similar programs in the future, with beading and writing workshops already being considered as possibilities.
