School division says Kiskihkeyimowin educational week a major success
By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on May 10, 2025.
Jingle dancer Shannon Kunka is seen performing during an opening ceremony for the Kiskihkeyimowin week-long learning event.--NEWS PHOTO BRENDAN MILLER
Throughout the week students in Medicine Hat had the opportunity to celebrate Black Foot, Cree and Métis Peoples as well as step inside traditional Cree Tipi structures for an immersive experience on Indigenous Culture and traditions.
The week-long educational event began three years ago to offer students an immersive opportunity to learn from Indigenous leaders, Elders, knowledge keepers and other esteemed members of the community.
From participating in dances, storytelling, drumming and crafts, students gained insights into the traditional ways of the province’s Indigenous peoples.
“Our young people are able to see, not only our way of life, there’s a lot of beauty in experiencing different ways of life, different races of people, different places in the world,” said Elder Charlie Fox. “All those go to help build who you are. It’s important for people to know who they are and where they come from.”
Fox says Indigenous learning events are a crucial part of the reconciliation process and says he is proud to share his people’s rich history to the next generation.
“Do you know the First Nations people? We have one of the richest cultures in the world, and we like to share that, we feel it’s our obligation to share that, to help our young people.”
And it is a culture rich in significant ceremonies and customs, dances, languages, clothing, storytelling and traditions.
The learning event was aimed at students from Grade 4- 10, who were able to experience that culture by participating in the Circle of Courage, talking circles as well as smudging and other traditional dances and games.
“The best way to go about that is sharing it, keeping that open mindset for Indigenous culture,” said Andrew Spotted Bull, Miywasin Friendship Centre.
Most learning activities were held at Medicine Hat College with several events occurring in the ÔmahksÃpiitaa cultural gathering place.
Medicine Hat Public School Division superintendent Tracy Hensel says Kiskihkeyimowin, which means “sharing good teachings in Plains Cree”, was a massive success this year.
“Every year I think it gets just a little bit better,” said Hensel. “The work that happens with SD 76, the college and the Miywasin Friendship Centre is a really special week. All of the kids were involved in activities for the entire week and it just deepens our learning.
“I think our kids are really lucky that they have an opportunity to kind of sit in that environment, they go out around the college grounds, they’re just immersed in it. So that’s something that we’re really proud of.”
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