Grade 7s Partake in Anishinaabeg Smudging Ceremony
Since the beginning of September, Mme Marshall’s Grade 7 classes have been identifying connections between their experiences and those of the Indigenous Peoples of our region. The students engaged with the Seven Grandfather Teachings, Les Sept enseignements sacrés, applying the wisdom and approach to caring for others to their daily classroom routines.
The students further noted the relevance of learning about Indigenous cultures in the French classroom – French and English are the two national languages of Canada, contrary to the fact that Indigenous Peoples were here first on this land.
To ground their learning further, Ms. Hunt led the students in a traditional Anishinaabeg Smudging Ceremony. As settlers on Turtle Island, Ms. Hunt shared her experiences and teachings, which she was gifted by Dr. Nicole Bell and Betty Carr-Braint from Trent University’s First Peoples House of Learning. And Mme Marshall shared her learning from her studies at OISE and Laurier on Indigenous cultures and histories.
The students engaged in the ceremony by setting an intention, adventuring to the outdoor classroom, and partaking in the tradition while submerging themselves in the nature of the back acreage. The students noted the sense of calm they felt as they focused on how to better their perspectives, and took part in understanding a culture both different from their own and incredibly important to our land.
As each class participated in the ceremony and reflected on their own learning, they agreed on the importance of respecting all people and the power of coming together for a shared goal. Inspired by Samian’s rap rendition of Kashtin’s song - Tshinanu, the Grade 7s are looking forward to working together as a team to take on the rest of the school year with humility humilité, honesty honnêteté, respect respect, courage courage, wisdom sagesse, truth vérité, and love amour.
Land Acknowledgment
The Country Day School wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. Our nearest Indigenous Nations are now the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Chippewas of Georgina Island. The Dish with One Spoon Wampum covenant is often cited as an example of the shared responsibility for caring for these lands among the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples who would call these their traditional territories. CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection to this land can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for the land and waters for future generations.
School Information
13415 Dufferin Street King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
