Learning Important Lessons from Native Culture at OLOL

Written by Our Lady of Lourdes on 23 April 2012

Left to right; Shannon Thunderbird with Mariah Campbell, Tristan Olivera and Sandy Horne teach through stories and songs at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Manitouwadge. Photo OLOL

Life at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School

Learning from another culture; Our Lady of Lourdes School student Taylor Hunter (left) and school mates drumming with Shannon Thunderbird (right). Photo OLOL

MANITOUWADGE, ON – April 20th, the grade 3-8 students of Our Lady of Lourdes were graced with a Medicine Wheel presentation facilitated by Shannon Thunderbird and Sandy Horne. The students had a chance to listen to different histories of the dream catcher, medicine wheel and many other cultural objects. Throughout the different tales and stories of creation, the ladies incorporated the different elements of the medicine wheel, such as respect and honour and how it important that we learn from the land to use the lessons together as humans.

The students learned that the native community was influenced by different animals such as the wolf, who displayed how a community has an important part of raising a child. The speakers taught the students to show pride in their individuality by standing tall. This lesson of self-respect was paralleled as they talked about how the traditional frame of the dream catcher was individual to its owner and it was perfect in its imperfections.

The students had the opportunity to play the traditional drums which they enjoyed very much. After acquiring the many lessons and facts, the students were able to make up their very own clan for the school. They chose to call themselves the “Wolf Clan”. They made a list of qualities of their clan that included integrity, independent, respect for family and to be strong when times are bad. Without the students knowing, all of these qualities were all found on the medicine wheel. The ladies turned the students’ ideas into a song which they later performed for the Kindergarten to gr. 2 students.

Some of the lyrics included:

“Wolf Clan is strong
In good times and bad
Intelligence rules with a helping hand
Wolf clan don’t bully
But live in grace
Integrity rules and so does Faith!”

All the children were engaged and enjoyed learning about the native community. “This was a lot of fun” said one student. “Best day ever!!!” said another.