Students gathered for a year end celebration to embrace some of the highlight activities that they participated in this school year. THank you to Mr. Shewchuk for organizing this day for students with his committee members.
Gatherings with our Elders within the schools across the division to build relationships and knowledge. A Gather Space has been designated in an area within the school, that students can visit and learn more about Indigenous culture.
The annual Orange Shirt Day on September 30th opens the door to global conversation on all aspects of Residential Schools. It is an opportunity to create meaningful discussion about the effects of Residential Schools and the legacy they have left behind. A discussion all Canadians can tune into and create bridges with each other for reconciliation. A day for survivors to be reaffirmed that they matter, and so do those that have been affected. Every Child Matters, even if they are an adult, from now on.
Orange Shirt Day Sept. 20, 2022
September 2021
FMPSD celebrates Indigenous Awareness Family Night through entertainment, performances, education, food and vendors which honor Indigenous Culture. Students, staff, families and community gather for celebrate.
Esquao Award - Cultural Navigator - Pollyanna McBain 2020
RMWB Citizen Recognition Nomination - FNMI SAC 2019
MLA citizenship Award for Westwood - Horizon Chief - Find on Twitter
Top 20 Under 20 - Sam Metacat-yah and Salima Thibeault 2019
FNMI SAC Winner of Heart of Wood Buffalo Indigenous Advocate Award 2020
Established in 2011, Rock Your Mocs which is a worldwide Indigenous Peoples movement held annually during November. It’s easy to participate by wearing moccasins to school, to work or wherever your day takes you. Rock Your Mocs if a fun way to unify Indigenous Peoples globally through internet social media, participants post their photos for everyone to enjoy, sharing their stories #ROCKYOURMOCS. It’s like a great big fun moccasin party that everyone gets to see pictures of!
FACEBOOK: @rockyourmocs
FMPSD celebrates Indigenous Awareness Week annually during the third week in May. We honor, recognize and celebrate Indigenous culture, history and traditions though special guests, presentations, dance and music, food, art, traditional teachings, and the list goes on!
Some schools across Fort McMurray Public School Division have Family Feasts to celebrate and honor our Indigenous Families. It is a way to build stronger relationships and to get to know our families on a deeper level, creating a safe and caring environment for all.
Composite High Family Feast Dec. 2022
The Moose Hide Campaign is a grassroots movement of Indigenous and non-Indigenous men and boys who are standing up against violence towards women and children.
Wearing this moose hide signifies your commitment to honour, respect, and protect the women and children in your life and to work together to end violence against women and children.
Fort McMurray Public School Division (FMPSD) thanks Suncor Energy for their gift of a Teepee installed at Westwood Community High School on October 15, 2020. The Teepee was raised by the McMurray Métis, and we are grateful to them for their assistance.
Thickwood Heights school created an event to share the great work they have been doing at Braiding Indigenous Ways into their curriculum. Hand in hand with this was the highlight of their work as a Legacy School and working with the Gord Downie foundation, fundraising by creating hand beaded buffalo tooth necklaces.
Students learned about the importance of this day, being a youth-led reconciliation event that brings together caring Canadians to help ensure First Nations children have the opportunity to grow up safely at home, get a good education, be healthy, and be proud of who they are. Schools who chose to participate shared what they did on social media.