Stoney Knoll/Opawashimoe Chakatinaw Workshop and Sign-Signing
Hereditary Chief of the Young Chipeywan, George Kingfisher, speaks to the crowd at Stoney Knoll/Opawashimoe Chakatinaw
Today (Friday, April 24, 2015) we had some guest speakers in the school who told us about the Stoney Knoll. Stoney Knoll was the property of Stoney first nations people, but the government took away their land and when they came back Mennonites and Lutherans were on it. The people who came to talk have all been working together to try and get back the land to the rightful owners and/or to have a peaceful settlement. The Lutheran church, Mennonite church and the Young Chipewyan first nations are all involved trying to get everything put right. After we heard them speak we ate a bannock and bison lunch; it was really good. After lunch we all hopped in the vehicles and headed off to Stoney Knoll. When we got there a first nations man named Harry Laffond talked to us about the importance of names, the reason he talked to us about names was because they are sending a letter RM of Laird to have the Cree name of Stoney Knoll be put on any sign Stoney Knoll is on. It was a really nice day and there were a lot of inspiring speakers and great learning experiences.
On the morning of April 23 we had the opportunity to visit the Rosthern Food Bank with all of the students from RJC not going to Alabama. When we arrived at the Food Bank we listened to Edward Spence a first nations elder living in Rosthern talk about is life. It was really interesting to hear is stories as he has had a rough past. After listening to Edward we got to see how the Food Bank works from one of the co founders, Wilmer Froese. He showed us how much food each family gets per month, what a food hamper looks like, and what kind of people work and use the food bank. There are seventy families in Rosthern and area that use the food bank each month. It was really surprising to us to learn about how many families use the food bank in a small town like Rosthern. The Rosthern Food Bank is the seventh largest food bank in Saskatchewan. Its amazing how a small town can make such a big difference in helping to feed families.
In
the afternoon we got the chance to go and visit the MCC clothes basket
here in Rosthern. At the clothes basket the managers Diane and Mary
showed us how all of the items donated got processed, what volunteers
and workers do, and were the money goes form the clothes basket. They
also showed us around the clothes basket; showing us were things got
placed, and the specific order were things got placed. Last year the
clothes basket made a total profit of $200,000 dollars, half of which
was donated to MCC in order to help charities, and those in poverty. It
was really surprising to us to learn about how much money the clothes
basket makes in year, and how many donations they get in a week. Almost
all of the workers at MCC are volunteers, which was very surprising to
find out. Its awesome to see how much the MCC clothes basket helps out
those in need.
Abby and Jared (Grade 10)
Abby and Jared (Grade 10)