O Canada Multilingual

I really love this new version of O Canada arranged and recorded by Tech Voc High School here in Winnipeg.

This is a multilingual version of “O Canada” including Cree, English, French, Ojibway, Inuktitut, and Tagalog.

Walking Wolf Performance

Last week we had an amazing performance by Ray Stevenson, known as Walking Wolf.  He shared with us stories and taught us about aboriginal drumming, singing and hoop dancing.

Aboriginal Drumming

Teaching us about the circle shape

Today Mrs. McGurry, our Aboriginal Education Teacher for St. James-Assiniboia SD came and taught one of our Kindergarten classes about the aboriginal drum.   We learned that the skins are made of elk, moose and deer.  We learned that a drum is a living thing and should be respected.  The sound of the drum is the heart beat of life.  Mrs. Rempel learned it is important to take care of our drums by 'watering' them.  Mrs. McGurry even taught us the friendship dance and the meaning of the circle shape.  Thank-you so much for sharing this wonderful gift.

Showing us how a drum is created

Trying out the drums

Trying to keep the beat with the rattles and drums

Here are a few beautiful songs and story that we can listen to that share this beautiful culture.

Anishinaabe Spirit Bear Song

Anishinaabek Turtle song 

The Drum Calls Softly

Our Home and Native Land

This year we are adding a new version of our anthem to our school's morning routine.  We are privileged to use Carol Morin's aboriginal version of O Canada.  The song is simply sung to the heart beat of the drum.  She intersperses her heritage into the song with lines in Cree and Chipewyan.  This week, our students listened to our original English version and then compared it to Carol's version.  Students created Venn diagrams of the comparisons and similarities.

This is what they came up with:

Crazy Horse Native American Dancers

What did you do this summer?   I wanted to share with my students and families this very special video I took on my summer road trip to the west coast.  This was taken in Black Hills National Park, South Dakota at the Crazy Horse Memorial near Mount Rushmore.  It is the world's largest mountain carving.  You can read more about who Crazy Horse is and why and how they are carving this mountain with this Native American.

These Native American dancers shared stories and several dances.  It was amazing!  It was a privilege to see these generations dancing together and honoring their culture.  The dancer with the red paint on his face is a relative of Crazy Horse.