Meadowridge Celebrates Indigenous Peoples Day
Four children in school uniforms sit on the floor playing drums.

The Meadowridge community came together for our school-wide Indigenous Peoples Day celebration. Following an opening gathering led by Lilly Cunningham from the Katzie First Nation, students and staff participated in experiences designed to deepen understanding of Indigenous cultures, histories, traditions, and ways of knowing.

Throughout the campus, students explored interactive stations that highlighted Indigenous storytelling and community. Activities included:

  • Weaving inspired by the Tsimshian Peoples
  • Indigenous beading
  • Lacrosse
  • Drumming demonstrations
  • Indigenous games and mindfulness activities
  • Storytelling and sketching sessions
  • Three Sisters planting in the Elementary garden
  • Land-based learning experiences that encouraged students to connect with the natural world around them.
Two groups of schoolchildren are engaged in activities at tables.

Students also had the opportunity to learn from one another. Grade 11 students shared their research and learning about Inuit communities with Junior Kindergarten through presentations and storytelling stations, while others engaged in activities inspired by Indigenous authors, creation stories, and personal territory acknowledgements.

The day provided meaningful opportunities for students of all ages to learn, reflect, ask questions, and celebrate the rich diversity of Indigenous cultures across Canada. By engaging with Indigenous perspectives and traditions, students strengthened their understanding of the importance of respect, reconciliation, and our shared responsibility to learn from the First Peoples of this land.

A young girl in a school uniform stands on a grassy field with a lacrosse stick, while in the background, other children and adults are gathered under a tent.

A special thank you to our Indigenous Education Coordinator, Ms. Charlene Smoke, whose leadership, knowledge, and dedication were instrumental in bringing this day to life. We are also grateful to the many staff members, students, and community contributors who helped create such a thoughtful and impactful learning experience for our school community.

As a community of lifelong learners, we remain committed to continuing this work beyond a single day and fostering meaningful connections with Indigenous histories, cultures, and perspectives throughout the year.

A person in traditional indigenous regalia stands before a black curtain, holding a drum.

 

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