Stories From the Field

Cover image for the video series "Stories from the Field" which include 4 smiling heads divided vertically

Reflecting on Stories from the Field As Ever Active Schools, we are often in so many places in a school year, that it’s hard to sit back and reflect on some of the moments and impacts we had in communities. So we sat down to collect “Stories from the Field” from some of our amazing…

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HOSTING A HISTORIC ATHLETIC EVENT

In October 2022, Ever Active Schools had the opportunity to co-host the Alberta School Athletics Association (ASAA) Cross Country Running Provincial Championships with maskêkosihk, or Enoch Cree Nation. This was only the second time in ASAA history that a First Nation community was selected to host.  “It was so special because the Cultural Grounds [where…

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EMPOWERED, INSPIRED AND CELEBRATED: STILL I RISE

The idea for ‘Still I Rise’ initially came to be in December 2020, when an insightful EAS team member working primarily in the Treaty 8 region recognized the need for Indigenous youth to receive messages of hope, perseverance and resilience in a time of uncertainty. From there the concept of a free virtual student event…

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LAND-BASED LEARNING: CONSIDERING THE FUNDAMENTALS

Written by Andrea Barnes. Originally published in GEOEC Connections Journal, October 2021. As an Environmental Educator with Alberta Parks and a classroom teacher, one of the silver linings of this past 1.5 years has to be the dramatic uptake and motivation for teaching outdoors. As we move into another year, hopefully, this energy and passion…

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OBSERVING THE NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION

Ever Active Schools will observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30th. We encourage other organizations, schools and communities to pause and also move to having September 30th as a public holiday, including the Government of Alberta.  True reconciliation involves reflection and truly listening to the positive actions that we can take…

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ACKNOWLEDGING THE PAST THAT ENSURED OUR FUTURE

Acknowledging the Past that Ensured Our Future Written by Apsipistoo (Evans Yellow Old Woman) Oki Niksokowa, nistoo’unohk Apsipistoo, nitohmto’to Siksikawa.  Hello my friends, my name is Apsipistoo, which is my Siksika name. It was gifted to me by my late great grandmother Koomakii, who hailed from the Blood Tribe. My name means White Owl.  My…

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BEAUTY AND STRUGGLE: INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY 2021

Written by Sandra Lamouche June is National Indigenous History Month, and June 21 of this year marks the 25th year of celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada. With over 300 First Nations, Metis and Inuit nations we have a lot to celebrate! As an award winning educator and a champion women’s hoop dancer, this is…

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CRAFTING MEANINGFUL LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Close up of green leaves from below with sunshine above and a sun spot creating an orange ring.

Beginning in September 2020, Ever Active Schools began to question our practice of territory land acknowledgements. The tipping point for some staff could be expressed in the words of Kay Ho: “Oftentimes, when non-Indigenous organizers make a territory acknowledgement, it is done hastily, and then discarded.” (2014, An Introduction to Settler Colonialism: Part Three) This…

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MY HEART IS FULL: COMBATING COVID-19 THROUGH TRADITIONAL SKILLS

Written by Chelsea Cattroll, Ever Active Schools, with support from Dr. Kevin wâsakâyâsiw Lewis, kâniyâsihk Culture Camps We turn to the land when we are stressed to re-connect to ourselves and become grounded. During a time that can be perceived as stressful and turbulent, I have seen that many people are starting to return to…

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CELEBRATING NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY

It is our hope that every student in Alberta experience the diversity of Indigenous cultures on National Indigenous Peoples Day! Every year on June 21, schools all across the nation take the opportunity to celebrate Indigenous culture and history.

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