Glenbow Elementary School had its Aboriginal Celebration Day last Friday (June 20), complete with a powwow inside of the school’s gym.
Students, family members and teachers were invited to celebrate aboriginal culture.
The powwow featured singing and drumming by the ‘Supranos’ from Morley, traditional dancing and an appearance from this year’s Calgary Stampede Indian Princess Carly Weasel Child from the Siksika Nation.
“It is really all about exposing the students to aboriginal culture and celebrating it,” said Brendan Trinca, the school’s principal. “It brings a great flavour to the school.”
It was a taste the students clearly enjoyed, as they cheered and watched in awe during the celebration.
“It captivated them in terms of listening to guests and their stories and sharing their passions and interests,” said Trinca. “It was something that the kids were absolutely enraptured by.”
Prior to the events in the gym, the students circulated around the school learning from different guests who shared unique stories with the students. Trinca said these activities honoured “the importance of the day in terms of celebrating aboriginal culture.”
During the powwow, $700 was presented to the Iyahrhe Nakoda Food Bank Society. The money was raised by the students at Glenbow Elementary through their Warrior Paint project – a project that Trinca said has landed the students a lot of recognition and has given back to the community.
Students created group paintings using historical photographs of their ancestors.
Greeting cards with the images are sold at various locations in Cochrane with all proceeds going to the Iyahrhe Nakoda Food Bank Society.
“It’s been ongoing for a few years now and it has been quite the journey,” said Trinca. “It is a project that continues to build and give back. That’s what we’re all about in terms of teaching citizenship in schools.”
