Clubs and Activities
Fur Kit
Our staff has access to a fur kit which contains multiple fur pelts of local animals. Students can learn about trapping, snaring, hunting, animal traits, habitat, diet and more. We are also able to access local Elders to assist in the learning.
Photos left and right are students from Dr. Clark.
Our First Annual FMPSD Dene Hand Games tournament!
On April 3rd, after weeks of practice, schools sent teams to participate in the first annual Hand Games tournament for Grades 4-12. The winners travel to the High River Tournament on May 5th. Congratulations Westwood Community High School! Thank you Matthew Shewchuk for organizing this tournament!
We attended our First Dene hand games
tournament in High River!
May 2022 where we got a very successful 5th place!
Walter & Gladys Hill Kinship Club 2022-23
Arctic Winter Games 2023
FMPSD students were lucky enough to be able to attend some of the events during the 2023 Wood Buffalo Arctic Winter Games! Hand games and Artci Sports were a highlight.
Drum workshop through Athabasca Tribal Council Spring 2022 with Randy Marten
Oskayak Drumming Group
The Oskayak Drumming Group was established several years ago at Dr. Clark Public School with Counsellor and Knowledge Keeper, Mrs. Eileen Lucas. They practiced weekly and perform all over the community. After Mrs. Lucas retired, we were fortunate to have Ms. Pollyanna McBain continue with the teaching. We hope to continue the drumming teaching not only at Dr. Clark but other schools as well.
Art Through Resiliency with Nistawoyou Friendship Center
In this partnership with the Nistawoyou Friendship Center students received Traditional Cultural knowledge and made crafts that focused around the 7 Grandfather Teachings and had discussions based on resiliency from the wildfire or any traumatic experience. The outcome was to be that our students would recognize and be able to experience growth from their experience using an Indigenous Perspective Lens. Unfortunately this project came to a halt with the pandemic. We are hoping to continue and complete this project.
Giant Floor Map
Since 2019, the FMPSD has been fortunate to have been able to house the Indigenous Peoples Giant Map from Canadian Geographic for learning at a number of schools. The map involves a number of discovery activities about Indigenous groups across Canada.
This resource assisted our students and staff in understanding the past, present and future of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. There is a wealth of information and diversity of stories and voices on this map. This resource is a wonderful starting point in our learning about Truth and Reconciliation, residential schools, Treaties, and Indigenous ways of life.
This year, FMPSD has purchased a map which will be utilized all over the division for student learning.
NAABA Showcase
Northeastern Alberta Aboriginal Business Association - hosts their Annual Showcase which is a two day event with Storytelling and Tradeshow. The Storytelling Series extends an invitation to our Indigenous Youth who are committed to academic and/or show interest and drive for entrepreneurship. Here they listen to stories of local Indigenous businesses to convey their life story and how they went from a conceptual idea to opening their business and insight to the bumps along the way. It is a wonderful opportunity for our students to listen and network with these successful business owners.
On March 10th, 2021 we were lucky to listen to the Right Honorable Paul Martin! He answered some of our questions and spoke about the Youth Entrepreneur Program that we have at Composite High School.
Dene Hand Games
In 2020 students across the division (Westwood, Ecole McTavish, Dr. Clark and many staff) had the honor of learning the skills and fun of Hand Games with Knowledge Keeper, Elissa Whiteknife.