PRJH celebrates Aboriginal Day
Deb Couturier
for South Peace News
Students at Prairie River Junior High School enjoyed an entertaining day on June 21 while celebrating National Aboriginal Day festivities.
Students commented that this “is a special day of celebrating, not what we as Aboriginals have become, but what traditions we have managed to keep alive and share them with modern day society.”
The day began with the students learning how to play hand games with HOST’s Aboriginal mentor Jamie Chalifoux.
The students, families, and staff also enjoyed a traditional meal when Esther Auger came in to make fry bread and fry bannock. The fry bannock was also used by the students to make Indian tacos.
Sucker Creek Education Department’s Alvin Cardinal, Thomas Willier, John Kachuk and Farley Cardinal also set up a teepee that everyone really enjoyed.
The hand games and round dance were accompanied by the drumming of Gerald Auger and Clayton Meneen. Everyone enjoyed taking place in the round dance.
Joline Pelletier and her daughter, Clay-Ce Badger, entertained everyone with a jigging demonstration.
Travis Dugas-Bellerose was on hand to talk to the students about his adolescent life, which was difficult because he grew up without his father. Dugas-Bellerose added humour to the session and the students walked away with confidence in the future.
Dugas-Bellerose is becoming well-known as a traditional dancer, motivational speaker, and actor.
The students also took comfort in the presence of Elder-Kookum Verna Wittigo.
The day ended with a hip hop performance by a local group from Sucker Creek First Nation: Unique and DJ Unit. The students were mesmerized by the sounds and songs put into this show.
The day was such a success, the school is already making plans for next year's celebration.
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