THUNDER BAY – Students and staff at St. Elizabeth School are making efforts to recognize Indigenous culture.
As part of the First Nations, Metis, and Inuit inquiry, students are learning about Indigenous culture through art projects.
Their most recent piece of artwork – a two and a half metre tall loon displayed in the school’s front lobby.
“Can you imagine the tiniest ones made the biggest project?” asked Lila Cano, who said the loon was made by kindergarten students.
Cano is an artistic director for Just Us and has been working on various art projects with St. Elizabeth students this year.
“It’s taken from the work of an Inuk artist, Ningeokuluk Teeve,” Cano said. “We cut the pieces out, we painted it, and printed each side of it.”
The loon is part of the Ministry of Education’s Frst Nations, Metis, and Inuit project which helps student engage with Indigenous artwork, according to principal Don Grant.
“We have a school population of approximately 30 per cent who self-identify as Aboriginal. It certainly helps to make it more of an inclusive environment,” Grant said.
Grant added that the effort to incorporate Indigenous culture has been present for the last three years.
“We’re honoured to have former artist Roy Thomson’s work displayed in our hallways,” Grant said.
Alongside the artistic aspect, students have engaged in other mediums such as theatre, and literary works.
“I think the strongest thing, is that it bridges gaps,” Cano said. “You’re not just sharing that information or knowledge with Indigenous children, but also with non-Indigenous children. It connects both of those cultures.”
