Last week, Superintendent Kathleen Finnigan was honoured with a ribbon skirt.
R-L: Superintendent Kathleen Finnigan and Board Chair Kim Pasula
Diane Gardipy, from the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Support Team shared with Kathleen that the word strawberry in cree is otehimin, which means heart-berry. The ribbon skirt is covered in strawberries that are thought to continue to grow in one's heart. It is also thought of as a special fruit from creator God and holds a lot of significance in the ceremony. An Indigenous Knowledge Keeper, Teresa Cardinal, shared the following "imagine having a young student in your class; they may be missing being around their culture and community. By wearing a ribbon skirt, can open the doors for conversation and sharing. Seeing an educator go out of their way to showcase our culture is so meaningful."
