The Grade 4,5,6 class at Winlaw Elementary has been participating in an Indigenous drum making program this spring. The class worked together to string 10 hand drums that will remain with the school. Over the next two years 20 more hand drums will be strung as a multi-generational drum making program being developed in consultation with Indigenous Educator & Elder Marilyn James. Part of the students’ preparation for the drum making was to spend an afternoon with Liam Fitzpatrick at Winlaw Nature Park. Students had the opportunity to play some Indigenous hand drums on the land and reflect on how it made them feel. Afterwards, as part of our team building process, the students took turns cooking bannock on the fire and shooting bows and arrows.

Indigenous Educator and Traditional Knowledge Keeper Taress Alexis then came on May 31 to facilitate the stringing of the 10 drums. The students had to work in teams to string the drums as these will be community drums and shared by all students at Winlaw School for the purpose of deepening our connection to Indigenous Ways of Knowing. As we wait for the drums to cure, the students will work to develop our drum protocols and document their experience to help guide next years’ participants in their preparation to string 10 more drums. We are holding an awakening ceremony for the drums the final week of school.

On June 8th Winlaw Elementary participated in the wuqanqankimik Truth and Reconciliation Run/Walk/Wheel. Our students have been in training running and walking each morning since May 1st. Our students and staff participated in a beautiful Opening Ceremony led by District Principal of Aboriginal Education Gail Higginbottom, our Aboriginal Academic Support Teacher Jenna Hopper and several of our Grade 5 Indigenous students.