Calling Lake School students and community members gathered on National Aboriginal Day to give thanks for life and in remembrance of the connection to the surrounding environment.
The day’s events were kicked off by a pipe ceremony in the school field, where a smoking pipe was passed around as thanks for life and to remember the connections to the land, animals and environment. A plate of food was scattered on the fire as well, feeding the ancestors. Afterward, those gathered ate with the ancestors by passing a bowl of Saskatoon berries around.
Following the pipe ceremony, everyone moved inside for a feast of various types of prepared moose, mashed potatoes, corn, bannock and boiled Saskatoon berries for dessert.
Calling Lake School principal Gloria Cardinal said the ceremony was “overwhelmingly successful.”
“It was really, really hectic. We had a lot of people from the community,” she said. “It was overwhelmingly successful. It went too long, we were going to have a tea dance, but the organizers decided we couldn’t because it just carried on for so long. People were eating – we had so much food.”
Cardinal added with truth and reconciliation, it was important to welcome community members into the ceremony.
“Everyone was welcome. We don’t exclude anyone. It’s very important to walk together and to heal together,” she said.
Organizer Sharon Loonskin said the ceremony was not specifically put on for National Aboriginal Day, but since the school usually does something culturally-related, they decided to host it at the school.
“This is related to community, and not only that, but also inclusion and the role and responsibilities people have in the community, and also the prayer and the connection to the land and the circle of that,” she said.
Some of the older male students were given the special role of the Oskapew for the ceremony, which is a young man working towards the milestone of manhood. Loonskin said it was an honour and a good learning experience for those young men.
Cardinal said National Aboriginal Day is a good opportunity to teach youth about their identity and beliefs that have been around for thousands of years.
“I think the more that the communities do events like what we had yesterday, and I think the more that youth attend events in their communities and with indigenous people, I think that really helps them,” she said.
