On Becoming Powerful Speakers

On Becoming Powerful Speakers
by Calen Whiteman

The first day of class I said to Mrs. Koops, “I’m going to be the narrator.” I was talking about the Kairos Blanket Exercise and told her how I was interested in being a leader for other schools and teaching them how this Blanket Exercise works and what it’s about. I told Mrs. Koops that I could be the narrator because I thought I could take this challenge. I could read it; I could nail it. Nobody else spoke up right away, so I decided I would because I’m not shy in front of crowds. I knew the name of the Kairos Blanket Exercise, but I didn’t know what it was about or what it said. My new leadership depended on me understanding my own history, taking some risks, building relationships, and being generous.

My first day back we had a talking circle as a class and Mrs. Koops explained to us how the KBE worked and we had a practice. It meant a lot to me because it was about my culture and how things have been happening so long ago to Indigenous peoples, how our land was being taken from us by the Europeans, the land being bought and sold, over 1000 Indigenous woman going missing and today the number is much higher (Kairos Canada, 2015). It speaks to me because I have had ancestors who have been through these things. My grandpa was a survivor at the Residential School in Lebret. I was told some crazy, scary stories about him being in there. I would explain more but they aren’t my stories to hand out and I don’t like speaking about them to others. I have had more family going through this, but I’ve never heard their stories. It’s important for Canadians to hear about this story; they’re not going to hear enough about it on the news, on YouTube; that’s why I want to take part in being a narrator. It’s a big risk but it’s worth it because it’s a topic that gets dropped. Residential School was a big thing. The apology is not enough. First Nations are still living on poor reserves.

My first time I taught students from the University of Regina they were in their 3^rd and 4^th year in becoming a teacher. We were at the Treaty 4 Gathering. At first I was nervous, but then I pulled it together and realized that no one is going to learn if they’re not being taught. At the end of our first session at Treaty 4 grounds we all sat in a circle and had everyone say something about their experience doing the KBE; a lot of their responses had me shocked because some of them didn’t know about the land that has been taken from Indigenous peoples or the diseases that were brought over to the northern part of Turtle Island. They didn’t know how residential schools affected them and what has happen to people that were in those schools. It’s a heartbreaking subject for me. Most of these U of R students were woman and the part in the exercise on Indigenous woman going missing had some of them looking shocked.

My second time leading the KBE as the narrator and I think I did a good job. They were younger kids, grade 5 and 6. There were about 3 kids that I helped read their scripts and it was great because I was working on my relationship skills while doing this with the little kids. Teaching them at a young age is good to me because they could tell others about it and we can teach more people. It’s an interesting topic when you take the time to realize what happened to Indigenous peoples and how the Europeans broke their promises and Treaties (Kairos Canada, 2015).

Since then, I’ve had opportunity to build relationships with Sacred Heart High School’s teachers, Notre Dame students and teachers, and some other schools that came to the Treaty 4 grounds and participated. It helped me get my voice and to not be shy. It teaches me how to be a leader for others and show them the exercise. One more thing that catches my attention is that we get to teach it to anyone who invites us and wants us to. I’m willing to go around and do this with other schools and possibly bigger places and towns. This is important to me because it is part of my shared history; this happened to my kin. I’ve had family go through it, my grandpa, my kokum, some aunties and uncles were a couple years short of going to residential school before it got shut down. Even thinking of the fact that they could have been in there still hurts me. I want people to know what happened because to some of us it’s really emotional because we had family go through it and we hear about the things that happened to them. I want to bring it up because it’s something people shouldn’t forget about. It feels like people have forgotten because it’s not a big topic anymore. For me it is a big topic because it still impacts me.

I want to make my voice, everybody’s voice, the voices that have been forgotten, the voices that have been through those struggles that have never been heard, I want them all remembered. Especially for the lives and the voices of my ancestors who had to live the hard way when I have it easy in a way. I don’t have to go to Residential Schools. I’m not taken away from my family. I’m not forced out of my culture, to not be traditional. I can live a free and happy life, but why couldn’t they? I want this exercise to help everyone understand that my people have been suffering from these things and till this day still are; it was a dark time back in the day for Indigenous people and it’s a dark subject for the heirs of the family’s and kids that participated in this awful time. So my job in this Kairos Blanket Exercise is to get the message out to everyone that I can be of service to with my class and teacher. I’m hoping I and my friends can get more and more invites from other schools to come show them how the KBE works. We have done it 14 times now and by the time this school year is over I think that we can get at least 40 or more opportunities as we are still working and building on becoming powerful speakers.

My Buddy Taish is Somebody to Go To

by Austin (Boss) Elliott

We are going to the elementary school tomorrow to introduce ourselves, creating what we’re calling Oski-Generation. Hopefully what we do in the elementary school goes as planned, and I hope that everybody participates in what we’re doing as a class.

My buddy Taish is second-guessing himself about it because nobody was paying attention (when we were planning). He wants this to work for the benefit of our class. If this goes as planned then we’ll achieve something from this, either if it’s happiness or being a good leader to our young youth.

If we can be good leaders the youth will learn how to be respectful and encourage others, and to treat people how they would want to be treated. It’s always good to show our youth that anything can happen when they show respect; it will take them places.

As a fellow friend of Taish Desnomie, he inspired me to eat right and workout. He is a great leader to look up to. He shows care to people who are in need, and he never gives up on you. If there is a problem, my buddy Taish is somebody to go to.

 

 

Kaleya's Visual Verbal Essay

by Kaleya McNabb

When we read Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth by Drew Hayden Taylor I read the part of Barb. Barb is funny, caring, rude, smart, and loyal. Her role in the play was the bigger sister, the adult, who made the choices for the family when her mother passed away. Although Barb and Grace’s relationship was rough in the beginning, by the end of the play she forgave her sister, Grace (technically Janice, the name given to her by her adopted family, but Barb called her Grace).

I drew five pictures: red and black block letters spelling BARB, a gravestone with “RIP Anne”, a bottle of white wine, a cup of coffee, and a daisy. I chose BARB because she is like me. The colour red symbolizes love and the red road; black symbolizes Barb’s power and solidness, but it’s also a colour people wear to funerals. The gravestone symbolizes the loss of Barb and Grace’s mother, but also the broken family. The “white” wine is important because Grace didn’t like Barb’s beer, but preferred the “white” wine. Barb laughed when Grace said she only drank white wine because white symbolizes Grace’s adopted family. The cup of coffee symbolizes Barb’s family because they all drink “real” coffee, but Grace drinks decaffeinated coffee. This shows another way that Grace is different.   At the end of the play, Grace finally has the courage to go to her mother’s grave to say goodbye to her. Grace says, “Co-waabmen, Mom, you’re your daughter, Grace.” Co-waabmen means “I’ll be seeing you” in Annishnawbe. At the end of the play Grace finds a growing daisy; she picks it and puts it on the gravestone. This shows that Grace still cares for her mom.

 

 

Getting Over Feeling Shy at the Canadian Symposium

by Lacey Missens

We went to a Canadian Symposium in Milestone, which is about half an hour away from Regina, so it took us an hour and a half to get there from Fort Qu'Appelle.

When we got to the school in Milestone, I was a bit nervous walking in. We went to Mrs. Stone's class and got settled in and then went to the library for a presentation from the Cherian's who were immigrants from India.

After that, we had lunch and we went back into the library.

Mrs. Stone told everyone to find partners. Mostly all were strangers to each other. I was scared and shy to choose partners, and at first I didn't even want to talk to anyone. Mrs. Koops ended up finding us partners. I saw Michael and Raven going into different groups and I was thinking to myself, I should too. She set me up with a guy named Tiesen and another guy named Adam who talked kind of low. Tiesen had a good personality and he knew what he was talking about; after, when they were done, I talked about my visual verbal essay. I read my essay because I didn't know what else to talk about. I was nervous the whole time. Austin (Boss) was sitting beside me, listening, so it wasn't all that scary, but it was awkward. We didn't know what to talk about after that. We finished early and went to go do our Blanket Exercise in the gym.

 

 

 

 

A Day in the Gym

by Austin (Boss) Elliott

It was a fun day in the gym class because we shot some hoops, I worked out with Taish, and I can see that every day, he and I are making progress. That's what I like about working with Taish, workout wise, and the rest of the class as well, they do a lot for themselves.

Guest Speaker Dan Bellegarde

by Taish Desnomie

I liked when Mr. Bellegarde was talking about how organized our people were and how organized our communities were back in the day. How we had our own hunting troupes and warrior tribes. He said a lot of great stuff. In his PowerPoint he says, "We organized politically, economically, socially and spiritually to enrich and protect our way of life." It felt like it gave me a lot of power and hope.

The title of his talk was "The Spirit and Intent of Treaty". He addressed topics like Inherent Rights, Treaty Making, A Century of Dishonour, and the Spirit and Intent of Treaty.

I liked how respectful he was of us as young people. I had open ears to what he had to say. It was an honour shaking his hand.

Interview with Ron Crowe: Guest Speaker

by the students of Oski-pimohtahtamwak otayisīniwiwaw

Question: What roles do you play in your community? What are some of your past positions?

Ron Crowe: Land Designation Coordinator for Treaty 4 Trust. My current role is to provide information and public education to Treaty 4 citizens and our neighbours about the properties that we are stewards of in Fort Qu'Appelle. I also work with Leadership Training at JSGS Public Policy School at the University of Regina. Some of the positions I've held are Chair of the Treaty 4 Chiefs Forum; Tribal Chair of the FHQTC; and Chair of the Hospital, now the All Nations Healing Hospital.

Question: What presence do First Nations have in Fort Qu'Appelle?

Ron Crowe: We have a historical relationship with this area by virtue of Treaty and Treaty 4 negotiations. Industry and business has been built because of our population presence in this area. We've taken a larger role in communication and public education by the virtue of the Treaty 4 Gathering, and the attention and prominence that brings ensures our participation in many activities in Fort Qu'Appelle. We are not invisible, not just by seeing us walking down the street, and not just stereotypical activities, but we are involved in all things and all parts of this community.

Question: What message do you want the youth to remember after today's presentation?

Ron Crowe: You make a difference. You will make a difference. You might not think that you have a role in what goes on. When I was in high school, I was fairly invisible, kind of blended in and out. I have since been able to find the ability to speak to people and share a message. I've always taken an interest in what happens in our community. Those kinds of activities will make a difference in your life. When you care about the citizens of your communities, you will make a difference. You might have other passions and interests, and that's fine There is no better feeling than to be able to help your fellow citizens.

Volleyball Afterwards

by Austin (Boss) Elliott

When we got to Milestone, we met people, interesting people from around the world. I was nervous to talk or do anything at Milestone. We sat through presentations and talked with the kids at Milestone. After the presentations were over, we did our Blanket Exercise in the gym. I took pictures because I was scared, still. We sat through the talking circle with people and they gave us some good thoughts. After the talking circle, we all started packing up, getting ready to go. One of the kids at Milestone asked if we could play some volleyball with them. Four of us all decided to play volleyball, me, Lacey, Michael and Taish. Lacey was giving us the points with her good serves. After that, Ms. Koops told us to pack up our stuff and go on the bus, but I said, "One more."

I would go there again and try to talk to the kids there, but until then, we will do our own thing, here, at Bert Fox.

Treaty Walk Through the Eyes of Keheau

by Keheau Ironeagle

 

The flags look nice. They stand for honour and heritage. History and prosperity.

 

The monument looks nice. It was a nice day for a walk.

 

 

The monument looks good. That's a nice view, standing beside the monument.

 

 

The lake looks nice. It makes me feel enlightened looking at the lake.

 

 

I like this monument because it represents the Treaties

and the signing of the Treaties and Native heritage.