Metis Beach - Cultural learning and new friendships formed with Alaqsite'w Giptu School

Cross-cultural understanding and reconciliation was very tangible at Metis Beach School (MBS) CLC this year. After several months of planning and correspondance, including a skype call between students, Helene Sims grade 5-6 and Erin Ross's sec 1-2 travelled to Listuguj First Nation to meet the enrichment class of Alaqsite'w Giptu School (AGS), the name means "the eagle will soar".  

Beginning in April, Helene Sim and I began to dialogue with Anita Basque, AGS's guidance counselor.  The plan was a two day trip in May where 25 MBS students would be paired with 18 students from AGS.

Twenty-five MBS students made the journey May 14-15^th, and were greeted by the AGS school and community drummers and dancers. The students were paired with eighteen AGS enrichment class students.  Together they enjoyed a tour of the community, sharing skills in traditional cultural crafts and a traditional Mi'gmaq meal were prepared. They also were introduced to some of the community elders. On the second day they also travelled to a local Heritge Site and Museum called Metepenagiag. This is the oldest village in New Brunswick, located near the city of Miramichi.

The trip was a huge success. Not only was a good time was had by all, teachers felt that this trip went a long way towards the goal of cultivating an appreciation about the significance of the Mi'gmaq people. Teacher Erin Ross explains, “This project was a first step in our process to eliminate the stereotypes of First Nations people that we still hear our students repeat in the classroom setting. We (the staff) felt that our students needed to visit a First Nations community to see those perceptions shift towards something more positive.”

Indeed, beyond knowledge or awareness, the trip directly resulted in many personal friendships, which one will hope to be the beginning of long lasting relationships. The students only spent two days together but when they left the Listuguj reserve, there were many hugs and tearful goodbyes. “They attached to one another so quickly” Ms. Ross said. As an unexpected learning she went on to observe that several students who were typically disengaged were the most excited about the experience, “What I realized is that the project helped meet social needs that are not necessarily met with our smaller classes.”

Further evidence of success in building reconciliatory relationships emerged during a follow-up activity in their English classes, in which MBS students prepared written responses about their trip. “The comments were overwhelming positive and they have asked every day since when they will see their friends again.” Some students mentioned that it changed their perception of the culture. For example, one student mentioned in their response that [Mi’gmaq] dancing and drumming meant so much more than he realized, i.e. that it told a story.

Through-out the project, the support of principal, Brett Mitchell was essential to the project’s success. Including, his application for CLC grant funds to cover transportation. In the end, all involved agreed that more schools in Quebec should be developing partnerships with First Nations school communities, pointing out that both Aboriginal and non-Aboriignal students and teachers could benefit.