A new school year is well underway, and Prince Albert’s WonSka Cultural School is celebrating with a cultural event.
A pipe ceremony, drumming, dancing, and a feast brought together many of its community partners on Thursday morning.
A handful of the school’s Grade 8 to 12 students had the sun shining on their backs while they set up a tipi in the school’s yard. WonSka teaches in a different environment than most schools, where students are free to come as their schedule allows.
Outreach worker Chantelle Arcand designed the teepee earlier this year, and was happy to see her handiwork standing tall. It will be used at other Sask. Rivers School Division events throughout the year.
“It’s awesome, it means everything actually. It’s basically all my artwork growing up, and them recognizing that I could do this, and them displaying it for everyone to see, it’s a good feeling
Each aspect of the teepee has symbolic meaning: the tree of life represents the kids and their growth, mountains at the base represent home, animals represent spirit animals protecting the school, and lightning bolts were a recommendation by Stuart Amyotte (who recent passed) to represent the thunderbird.
Arcand has moved into doing more art projects at school, and says it gives students a creative outlet.
Later this year, the students will create murals on the walls of the school with Arcand’s help.
