“For every time that a pole is added, a rope goes around to bind that pole into place. You have to be there and see it to appreciate that teaching. That rope is a sacred bond, binding all the teachings together until they are all connected.” -Elder Mary Lee

We began this school year with a tipi raising ceremony.

As a school, we learned about the teachings of each of the fifteen poles and then each class gave a tobacco offering to our Saulteaux knowledge keeper, before helping to put up one pole.

When the tipi was up, several men from local First Nations sang and danced Pow-wow. Then the whole school joined in a great round dance around the tipi. It was a moving sight to see, the entire school united as one, honouring the history of this land.