Honoring+our+Elders+Celebration

media type="custom" key="3487586" 

=On February 24,2009 our school hosted an Honoring our Elders school assembly with students from kindergarten to grade twelve. We invited fifty elders to the assembly to be recognized by the school staff and students. One of the main reasons we hosted this event was to promote generosity. Our students presented gift baskets to the elders. It was a beautiful ceremony because the eldest elder of the community Albert Natomagan came to take part in the festivities and to receive his gift. = =Thanks to all the creative people on our staff, Lena McCallum, Clinton Sanderson and Joel Durocher we had three different square dance performances and than a grand final jigging performance by some of our top dancers. There were a few community guest speakers, Ron Skage spoke about the importance of havin elders in our school and encouraged the elders to continue being a part of our education system because the elders could provide information, wisdom and knowledge that the education system could never provide. Joey McCallum spoke about the need to respect elders and how the elders need to continue teaching the values that are essential for all human beings. We had great reviews and the elders took part in a beautiful supper that was prepared by Sharon Maurice and the home care staff. = =All of the staff and students were encouraged to visit the elders and to deliver the gift baskets to the elders home. My heart was deeply touched because I delivered one of the baskets to the elders home and in less then two weeks, we lost this elder after a long battle with some form of lung disease. I feel that it was an honor to show our respect to this elder before we lost him. I want to continue the work of recognizing and respecting elders. I also want to continue bringing the elders and the youth together at every opportunity. = =Our plan is to change the music on this presentation to a song that was written especially for this movie in honor of the elders. Once we complete this presentation, we will present during an elders gathering and then we will conclude the day with an elders forum which will focus on advise to community leaders. =