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 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!
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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