MEDICINE WHEEL SCHOOLS

 In the last three years, Sandy and I have had the privilege of spending a Medicine Wheel and Character Education Days with students from a number of Ontario Schools (Grade 8-1). Part of the time was spent building an indoor Character & Environmental Education Medicine Wheel using the participants as the 'stones'. Every group is different; there is never a dull moment. All of them are good-natured and willing to try new things.

Parents should be proud of their kids, they are really very special; kind, funny, thoughtful, exuberant and really good drummers! Thunderbird is confident the world is in good hands.

EAST LAMBTON, GRAND BEND, KINNWOOD, BOSANQUET, ABERARDER, HILLSIDE - GRADE 7 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, Forest, ON area

Wow! This was a very cool day. Sandy and I built the largest Medicine Wheel, so far with 140 Students and Teachers as the 'stones!' The students showed remarkable patience in waiting their turn to hold the microphone and read their teaching aloud. It also indicated great courage to stand in front of their peer group and read aloud. Sandy and I were very proud of them. They also drummed wonderfully. T'oyaks (thanks) to the Teachers who pitched right in with good humour and cheer. Thanks, "Anishinaabe Bob", for helping us create the circle of chairs.

                                                                      Before           After        and     After

DESERONTO PUBLIC SCHOOL
(Grades 7-8)
 Co-Ordinator: Willian Launderville

Sandy and I spent a great day with some students who were on a day-long retreat at Wesley Acres just south of Belleville. They were fun to be with and very thoughtful when it came to building their medicine wheel. William (Bill), their teacher was simply great and he had a lot of fun belting out the tunes.

 HOLY CROSS SECONDARY SCHOOL, (Grades  9-12),
Kingston, ON
  Co-Ordinator: Ian Stuart

 Sandy and I have acquired a second Big Drum. We didn't have time to wake it  and so decided that we would conduct the ceremony at the first stop on our mini tour in December, 09. As Sandy told the students, this was a very rare situation to conduct such a ceremony, but if we didn't do it, the drum could not be played. The students were invited to join in the wakening ceremony which they did with great kindness, given that they had little exposure to anything First Nations. Sandy explained that the Drum had already been feasted for seven days.

• Pipe Ceremony: I spoke a prayer in my language, loaded my pipe, explaining that each pinch of tobacco represented all the living beings in the world, swimmers, crawlers, flyers, humans. I then spoke the name of the drum aloud, K'oolgyet Na Hool (One People Drum) - Kool for short! and the pipe was smoked by myself and Sandy.

• Sandy and a male student, Roger, walked together around the drum in a clockwise direction as Sandy touched the pipe to the four directions on the drum.

• Next female students sat at Moonstone Big Drum, other students were on seventeen hand drums, and we sang a song and watched the tobacco dance on K'oolgyret Na Hool.

• Danielle, a Mohawk from the nearby Tyendinaga reserve scooped up the tobacco and placed it a medicine bag, along with sage, cedar and sweetgrass.

• She and Roger  then  tied the medicine bag to the drum.

• Sandy and Six male students were the first to sit at K'oolgyet Na Hool and play it for the Ancestors.

Sandy and I will always remember where we woke 'K'ool'.

FOR MORE ON K'OOL & ITS ORIGINAL SONG

THE REST OF A MAGICAL DAY AT HOLY CROSS SCHOOL

Teachers played K'ool, Thunderbird told a Lakhota story "Buffalo Caller", (about Equality, Self-Esteem & Respect), students were chosen to represent the various characters; there was lots of drumming and the 'Kool Boys' as Sandy and I dubbed them did a great job. The Moonstone Girls were as steady as a rock as both drums, sang in unison. It was quite the sound and quite the experience to hear two big drums doing their thing. Nice going, kidlets!

In the afternoon we built the Medicine Wheel and the students read out their assigned teachings and we discussed them when the circle was completed.

Holy Cross: Original Song Lyrics from their Medicine Wheel Experience:

When I drum I feel strong
I am curious about my world
I am hopeful for my life
The drum empowers me to dream
Way-ya heya ho
I share my things and what I know
I am joyful and I care
I am hopeful for a world
That brings me peace on Mother Earth
Way-ya Heya ho

NICHOLSON CATHOLIC COLLEGE, Grades 9-12)
 Belleville, ON

Co-Ordinator: Ian Stuart
 
Vice-Principal: Monique Chapman

Another bunch of terrific students. This was particularly special because there were six Mohawk students present (5 @ 14 years of age, and their Mentor, Marni at seventeen years of age). The Lakhota Story "Buffalo Caller" was told, with students representing the characters; Moonstone was played enthusiastically, I talked about Medicine Wheel and Character Education using my trusty chart; Sandy did the drum teachings; and the students engaged and listened. Love them! In the afternoon after pizza lunch we built the medicine wheel.

We wrote and sang a special song for the Mohawk Students because of the serious troubles they are having on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Reserve. I was very dismayed to learn that a group of people had burned down a Longhouse! It has caused much despair as factions divide against each other for reasons that the six students could not explain.  We gathered them in a circle and sat them between the two big drums. I wrote a song from the words the students gave me in their support. As they held my Eagle Feathers, we then sang it to them. 

 PROUD MOHAWKS

To Hope is to Dream
To hope is to move forward
Believe in your Culture
You are proud Mohawks
(the Six students responded with "We are Proud Mohawks")
Be strong don't give up the fight
Respect yourself, Respect yourself

The anger of this small faction  is not directed at whatever it is that is causing their individual despair. Instead, they have chosen to direct their rage inwards at their own people. I send my prayers to the good people living through this and hope that 2010 will see resolution and calmness return to the reserve. Remember, terror and terrorism can only thrive when good people stand back and do nothing.  

MADILL, MITCHELL, STRAFORD CENTRAL, STRATFORD NORTHWESTERN  (3 years running)

Co-Ordinator: Maureen Matchett

This is our third year working with Maureen Matchett and her students from Madill Secondary School. This year Madill was joined by students from Mitchell and Stratford. In past years Listowel and Goderich have been part of the day. Avon Maitland should be very proud of its young people. They are simply the best! Students shored up my spirits by singing an honour song to my brother, Lt Colonel Colin Marmo (Nisnawa). His spirit has been with me as I moved toward the end of my thirteen moon ceremony for him (January 23, 2010).

BEAUTIFUL YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR TEACHERS

Original Song Lyrics from their Medicine Wheel Experience:

 We came together, experienced each other
We learned, we laughed, we shared
We drummed, we ate, we cared
We are community
We are connected
We are richer being together

SOUTH HURON SECONDARY SCHOOL - GRADE 9  - Given that they didn't have a clue what a medicine wheel was, these young people engaged in the process in a really good way finding the courage to talk about individual teachings in front of their peers. Nice going!


    

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STEPHEN CENTRAL - GRADE 8
 - The Students were wonderful, full of good cheer and fun. They engaged in conversation with me in a thoughtful and kind way. Loved them!


 

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"Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us today. With

appreciation, Students & Staff of Madill, Mitchell, Stratford Central and Stratford Northwestern Secondary Schools."

YOU ARE MOST WELCOME, THE KIDS WERE A LOT OF FUN TO BE WITH.
 Shannon & Sandy