Students at École Oceanside Elementary celebrated Aboriginal Day Tuesday with lessons and demonstrations of a range of First Nations cultural activities.
The day ended with an assembly in the school gymnasium featuring singing, gifts and the unveiling of a cedar bench, decorated in aboriginal art, dubbed the "Buddy Bench."
Throughout the day, students rotated between nine activity stations, so that every student got a turn at each activity. They included cedar weaving, dancing and drumming, lahal, lacrosse, wool knitting, quilt designing, storytelling, meeting with an elder, and the sharing of Raven Tale.
The lobby and hallways of the school were decorated in the theme of the day with art projects created by students, including miniature drums, model salmon, button blankets and dreamcatchers.
The activities were facilitated by Linda Ermineskin, the First Nations liaison to Oceanside Elementary; aboriginal teacher Bonnie Finotti; and other featured guests representing both First Nations and the community as a whole.
—NEWS Staff