The Vancouver Board of Education and the UBC Museum of Anthropology (MOA) co-hosted the 8th Annual First Peoples' Festival in November. Held at the Museum, students in grades 5, 6 and 7 experienced a day of workshops, cultural activities and performances by a range of Indigenous artists and educators.
The goal of the festival is to promote the diversity of Indigenous people. Both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students benefit from the shared event by gaining knowledge and understanding through participation in the learning opportunities of the day.
Acknowledging the event was taking place on the unceded traditional territory of the Musqueam People, the 8th annual First Peoples' Festival began with Musqueam member, Alec Dan, welcoming the students to Musqueam traditional territory.
Students were then dispersed to a variety of workshops on topics such as drumming, archeology and West Coast Art. One session was on traditional plant knowledge, where learners heard about plant foods, medicines and utilitarian plants. The workshops gave opportunities for students to learn about the diversity of Indigenous peoples and cultural teachings.
Xpey' Elementary teacher David Delorme says "Our school was honoured to be invited to attend the First Peoples Festival for 2018. Our students took part in cultural teachings and embraced all activities. We engage our community and embrace all teachings from elders and knowledge keepers."
The day finished with former student Latisha Wadhams and Britannia Secondary Aramis Hanuse performing an honour song, acknowledging being on Musqueam lands and thanking students for participating in events throughout the day and being good listeners.
The First Peoples' Festival honours the Second Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement, signed in June 2016, by the Vancouver Board of Education, the BC Ministry of Education, Musqueam Indian Band and the Indigenous communities. This agreement marks the School District's commitment to enhancing Indigenous students' academic success in Vancouver schools from K-12. It focuses on increasing Indigenous students' sense of belonging, pride and self-esteem, mastery of skills, as well as connections to their cultural knowledge and exposure to the urban Indigenous community. Additionally, the Vancouver School District honors and recognizes the significance of the document and the importance for everyone who works and learns in the District's school communities.
Learn more about Indigenous Education at the Vancouver School District.
