WE LIFT AS WE CLIMB THE MAGIC HAPPENED AT C.E. WEBSTER PUBLIC SCHOOL (TDSB) LOADS OF LEARNING, LOVE & LAUGHTER AS A BEAUTIFUL & PERMANENT FORTY-STONE MEDICINE WHEEL WAS BUILT ON SCHOOL PROPERTY Click to see photo

 

MAGIC TIME C.E. Webster was one of six schools selected from across Canada for a special environmental/character education project by ArtsSmarts, a national non-profit organization that brings artists, teachers and students together in collaborative artistic endeavours - good on them! Other sponsors for this wild and exciting week included: Prologue to the Performing Arts, Evergreen (a non-for profit national organization that makes cities more livable by 'greening' them, also good on them!); Toronto District School Board (TDSB). I was asked to come up with a week-long program for sixty Grade 4-5 students that include environmental issues. I immediately dubbed them, the "Magic 60". My suggestion was to build a permanent forty stone medicine wheel on school property. It was met with enthusiastic agreement by all parties. Sandy and I personally selected the Grandfathers (rocks) and they were driven to Toronto by our friend, Chris. I had a dream that the wheel should be anchored by an Inuksuit that would represent each unique individual involved in the project (Students, Principal, Teachers, everyone else)  The wheel was built beside the School's stone talking circle; Evergreen cleared the space and laid gorgeous red calcite in a thirty foot in diameter circle. The first part of the week included character education and environmental teachings. Nothing is random in the process and students were assigned specific teachings after I had a chance to spend time with them. Each stone represented both an environment & character education teaching. Throughout the week, Sandy and I were blessed with assistance from some great people, starting with 'Tony the Tiger', the school's fabulous caretaker. Susan Habkird (from Prologue) and teachers: Mrs. Catherine Watts. Mrs. Jenny Schaffenberg, Mrs. Brenda Mennie, Ms Nellie Ledonne, Mrs. Dianne DeSousa, Ms Xana Duncan, & aide Ms Janet London, Mr. Tony Tamburro & aide Mrs. Maureen Clark,. The students engaged in small group conversation about what the words meant to them. For example: Courage, Being Good Enough, Imagination, Trust, Honour, Respect, Humbleness, Honesty and on and on. At the end of the session, the group leaders (teachers) recapped the discussion for everyone to hear.    Susan Habkirk, Executive Director, Prologue to the Performing Arts recapping her small group discussion Thunderbird's big board Medicine Wheel Chart showing all the teachings and their directions. The board was gifted to the School as a teaching resource. MEDICINE WHEEL BUILD DAY The different Cultures worked seamlessly together, as they  read aloud their teaching and laid their stone. Carefully placing their stone as Sandy watches Reading their teaching after laying stone Cultures working together MAGIC 60 CHOIR The students drummed and sang all week because Thunderbird/Horne also decided to turn them into a choir so they could entertain everyone at the extravaganza. They wrote their own wonderful song lyrics to express how they felt about the whole process.  In 3 minutes flat, Thunderbird came up with the tune (she's really good at that!) and voila! a wonderful original song was born, entitled 'Medicine Wheel' (lyrics below).  C.E. Webster does not have a music program, but you would never have known it by the way the 'Magic 60' sang like angels. Sandy's husband, Jeff, gave up his day off and came to the school to record three songs, and now C.E. Webster has a professionally produced CD as a memento of this very magical week. They other two songs, written by Thunderbird, are entitled, "Ishpiming" and "Today".          Magic 60 Choir being put through their paces by Thunderbird. Rehearsing before recording their songs.  Sandy is pounding out a rhythm on the drum - We worked 'em hard & they responded.  From Little Bear Recording Studio, Jeff Carter - Simply the best! IN MEMORIUM - WHAT IS IT TO BE A WARRIOR OF PEACE In honour of my brother, Colin (also known as Nisnawa), and a Lieutenant Colonel, 30th Field Regiment, Canadian Artillery, a pin from one of his uniforms was buried in order to signify that all members of C.E. Webster were Warriors for Peace.(Photo left is Thunderbird placing the pin in the ground as Sandy watches. Nisnawa passed to his day of quiet, January 18, 2009). DEDICATION CEREMONY EXTRAVAGANZA The Magic 60 performed their songs at the dedication extravaganza at the end of the week. The ceremony opened with a Grand Entry. The host drum, Moonstone Women's Big Drum Group sang the procession in with the 'Raven Song' sung in Sm'algyax (Thunderbird's language). The Procession was led by Veteran and Eagle Staff Carrier, Elder Gary Sault, Mississauga of the New Credit. Moonstone Big Drum then pounded out the Veteran's Honour Song, after which Elder Gary, offered an opening welcoming prayer in the Ojibwa language. Principal, Troy Sotiroff also gave a welcoming address and thanked everyone involved for their hard work in bringing the project to a fabulous conclusion. Thunderbird then offered a teaching on the Medicine Wheel. Everyone repeated after me, a Human Rights Declaration of Peace. C.E. Webster Public School was now sacred land. It was a very moving moment. (Words printed below) IMPORTANT NOTE: The Mississauga of the New Credit were invited to the celebration because the Medicine Wheel was built on their territory (Toronto!).  'Ishpiming' (Universe) was sung completely in Ojibwa to honour Elder Gary Sault and Former Chief of the New Credit, Caroline King. It was very cool! OTHER SPECIAL PEOPLE & GUESTS: C.E. Webster total Fabulous Planning Committee: Principal, Troy Sotiroff, Catherine Watts, Jennie Schaffenburg, Brenda Mennie and Tony the Caretaker (Thunderbird & Sandy could not have functioned without him, he was the greatest!) Evergreen: Samara Newman (also part of the planning committee) ArtsSmarts: Executive Director: Annalee Adair Prologue to the Performing Arts:  Susan Habkirk, Pat McCarthy (also part of the planning committee); Mary Beth MacMillan, Ann Harper. Canadian Education Association: Penny Miller, CEO J.W. McConnell Family Foundation: Lyn Baptiste, Trustee York University: Michael Greyeyes, Faculty Member, Department of Fine Arts, Choreographer Last but not least: Thunderbird's  husband, Peter, who hung in for most of the week, helping Thunderbird and Sandy build the Inuksuit and assisting the kids on 'build' day with laying their stones. Below:  I am in full Pacific Northwest Coast (B.C.) regalia acting as 'Goddess of Ceremonies" (neither the terms, Master or Mistress of Ceremonies worked for me!) Below: Coast Tsimshian Fancy Shaw Dancer, Erin Dickson  wow'd the crowd with her high stepping butterfly dance. She was accompanied by Moonstone Women's Big Drum Group. Below: Sandy & Thunderbird directing the Magic 60 Choir & Drummers at the Dedication Ceremony .....Wilwilaaysk - All My Relations.....

 

MEDICINE WHEEL Music: Shannon Thunderbird; Lyrics: Magic 60 Choir, C.E. Webster Public School When I drum I feel Strong It runs my Heart It opens my World When I drum my Spirit Soars I feel one with the Animals Weya-hey-ya-ho Weya-hey-ya-ho I feel free to Express Myself I am always Respectful My body is my Sanctuary I keep it clean so I Stand Strong Weya-hey-ya-ho Weya-hey-ya-ho CALL AND RESPONSE: We are:  Humble, Peaceful, Leaders, Peacemakers, Good Enough!

C.E. WEBSTER HUMAN RIGHTS DECLARATION OF PEACE (It will be re-affirmed throughout the year.)   “We hereby state that C.E. Webster Public School, its land and building, the Talking Circle and the Medicine Wheel is sacred territory. Bullying, racism, jealousy, hate and violence are not welcome in our school, now or at anytime in the future. All members of the school (including human visitors, four-leggeds, flyers,  swimmers and crawlers) must be respected and protected. We are Warriors of Peace and we never leave anyone behind. We lift as we climb. Wilwilaask, All Our Relations"

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