(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Dawson Thompson

Cultural Diversity

Prince Albert high school to host Indigenous Day

Sep 23, 2021 | 12:00 PM

To celebrate their large Indigenous student population, Carlton Comprehensive High School will be hosting an Indigenous Day, all day tomorrow for a third time.

The event on Friday is free to the public and will begin at 9:30 a.m.

“We want to acknowledge our Indigenous students that are on treaty-six territory,” Bonnie Vandale, a teacher at Carlton Comprehensive High School told paNOW. “We want to engage in meaningful relationships, and what better way to do that than to have some fun with our classes. The events we have for everyone to enjoy are teachable moments and cultural activities.”

The high school is seeing quite a diverse population this year with 60 per cent of the student population being Indigenous.

Key highlights of the day will include a grand entry, powwow dancers, cultural workshops, and an afternoon concert.

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“We are hoping the sun will be shining, and we have a great day. It will be awesome to watch the powwow dancers,” Vandale said. “We have the Creeland Dancers coming to showoff their square dancing and jigging skills, Dean Smith will accompany them on fiddle.”

The day will begin with the grand entry, and will be outdoors on the soccer field. Lieutenant Governor Russell Mirasty will deliver a speech, and former teacher and event organizer, the late Victor Thunderchild will be honoured.

“Mr. Thunderchild was one of those people who started this Indigenous Day with myself, we are going to honour him on Friday morning,” Vandale said. “His wife and kids will be in attendance. His daughters will powwow dance as well. It will be very memorable.”

Afterwards, the daily entertainment will begin, breakout sessions will start, and cultural workshops will open their doors.

“These include elders teaching, beading, pointillism, mental health workshops, and a quilting workshop with a storytelling concept,” Vandale said. “We will end the day with a concert put on by Constant Reminder.

“We are also having a trade fair in the gym. Any crafter who would like to purchase a table, this is your last chance.”

Anybody interested in setting up a table is asked to contact the school. Vendors will be asked to enter through the front doors of the school, and sign a COVID tracker form.

The concert will begin at 2 p.m. and food trucks will be on site, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

She said a key message students can take away from tomorrow is to have pride in yourself, and be comfortable in your own skin.

“I think we need to be proud of the people who we are,” Vandale added. “Have pride in who you are as a person.”

Anyone from the public is encouraged to take part in the activities and visitors who do partake will have to sign in at the front doors.

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Dawson.thompson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @dawsonthompson8