National Indigenous Peoples Day at ʔaȷ̌umɩxʷ (Willingdon Beach)

Grade 4 to 7 students from across qathet School District and qathet region gathered at ʔaȷ̌umɩxʷ (Willingdon Beach) to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day. The day was rich with cultural experiences, including drumming and song, dance, theatre, storytelling, an art gallery walk featuring Indigenous art, delicious traditional food, and more! 

The celebration began with a land acknowledgment, honouring the ɬaʔamɩn (Tla’amin) Nation, on whose territory we are privileged to live, learn, and play.

Next, everyone joined in a drumming and dancing circle before learning about the sohoθot (spiritual bath) and water as medicine from the čɛpθtən (Aunties) at the shoreline. Students learned that water is a powerful gift tied to emotion and healing. Spirit baths, which symbolize release, teach respect, boundaries, gratitude, and staying grounded. When entering the water, one must do so with purpose and exit from a different place, signifying the letting go of what no longer serves.

The students then moved to the pavilion stage for a performance by the qathet School District’s elementary musical theatre group. They performed a retelling of the “Mischievous Cubs”, a story about cubs who took salmon without asking while their mother slept. Their overfull bellies eventually made them sick, and they confessed. The teaching of this story was to “always tell the truth”.

Afterward, students got to witness a variety of cultural performances. Songs were shared by; čɛpθ Shane Wilson, a Choctaw/Chickasaw Nation member. The Edgehill primary choir and the čɛčɛhaθɛč song which was composed by Stephanie Davidson, a staff member and ally from Edgehill school. A debut performance by Logan, a grade 9 student from Brooks who composed his song during the “Story to Song” cultural retreat, joined by his friend, Eric. Some even got the chance to learn pow wow dance steps from Indigenous Education staff members. 

The day ended with students exploring the GIJE (Land) Program students' hand-carved canoe, viewing a gallery of student art inspired by Indigenous artists, and sampling traditional foods like saplɛn (bannock), (kʷuʔuxʷ) smoked salmon salad, and a tihayɛ (traditional iced tea) made from local Indigenous plants (sewsew (nettle), qagən (rosehips), wild mint, tɛnɛkʷ (salmonberry), and čɩtoxʷən (blackberry)).

We are deeply grateful to the Indigenous Education family, ɬaʔamɩn Nation Elders, community members, and staff who brought this day to life. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, creating space and opportunity for connection, and guiding this important learning journey. 

Watch a highlight reel from the day, here!