The final leg of another journey

It is "back to school" time for our division's students and staff this week, but it is also the final year for me as a school board trustee. In an effort to further educate the public on the role of a locally-elected school board trustee and to possibly garner interest in the October, 2017 elections, I have decided to resurrect this blog and commit to a weekly post.

To start the year off, I need to talk about the importance of the pipe ceremony conducted by one of our division staff, Cliff Cardinal. A respected elder from the Saddle Lake Cree Nation, Mr. Cardinal performed the sacred ceremony with all of our division principals, assistant principals, central office staff and trustees last Monday, August 22. He spoke of how isolated and uncomfortable he felt when he came to work for our division 12 years ago. Leaving the reserve to work in a non-aboriginal environment was so foreign for him and it is also foreign for many of our students who come from our neighbouring First Nation communities.

For many of us taking part in our first pipe ceremony, it also may have also felt foreign. Like any traditional ceremony in any culture, there are certain rules and practices to follow, similar to entering a new school or a new grade. But Mr. Cardinal was an excellent educator and took time to explain the customs and the stories behind the pipe ceremony.

Aside from the pipe ceremony, our division staff are also encouraged to take part in blanket exercises and a residential school tour through the now Blue Quills University. Our division also holds a traditional pow wow for our students every second year. All of these events and activities are meant to help close the gap between our cultures and reach a deeper understanding of our First Nation, Metis and Inuit students and their communities.

I look forward to sharing information about the role of a locally elected trustee over the weeks and months to come. If you have more questions about next year's election or about our school division, please leave a comment below.