I was pleased to have been supported by the Saskatchewan Cultural Exchange during January and February 2023 in Pinehouse Lake at Minahik Waskahigan Elementary School, where I worked with students and teachers on an arts program. It was gratifying to return once again after engaging in arts programming during the 2022 school year. Having retired from teaching in 2021 after twenty-one years in the community, it has been wonderful to continue my work in this capacity. This program was collaboratively planned with the school administration, teachers, and myself in the fall of 2022. The six-week program encompassed two weeks of beadwork, two weeks of drama activities, and two weeks of collaborative painting. All aspects of the program were centered around Indigenous culture, with a specific focus on Metis culture. The program involved all students from kindergarten to grade 6.

Upon arriving on January 9th, I dedicated the first two days to setting up and crafting a six-week schedule in conjunction with the teachers. Fortunately, an educational assistant volunteered to create the schedule using a computer program, which provided clear guidance for both teachers and myself. The beadwork segment of the program commenced with a historical overview, followed by the creation of beads using air-dry clay. These beads were subsequently painted and used to assemble necklaces or bracelets. Simultaneously, older students began crafting small medicine wheel pins, a project they continued refining over the six-week period. Younger students engaged in creating simpler beaded rings and bracelets using larger beads. All projects were successful, and teachers and support staff actively participated in guiding the students through the beadwork process.

The two-week drama phase of the program proved to be immensely enjoyable. To enrich this segment, I invited Kennetch Charlette, a seasoned drama and theatre instructor, to join for two days. With fifteen years of experience in Hall Lake, Saskatchewan, and a background as the former artistic director of Gordon Tootoosis Theatre (Sask. Native Theatre) in Saskatoon, Kennetch was a valuable addition. The drama work commenced with introductory lessons featuring drama games and other interactive activities. Kennetch subsequently engaged with all classes during his visit to the school, with extended sessions for the older students. Following his involvement, I continued to build upon the foundations laid by Kennetch. The two weeks were highly successful, enabling students to explore diverse means of self-expression.

The final two-week period centered on collaborative painting. The plan involved students working in pairs or groups of three to create canvas paintings inspired by the Grandfathers Seven Sacred Teachings, each class focusing on one teaching. This phase was executed smoothly. I dedicated two sessions to each class, covering the teachings, priming canvases with gesso, and assisting partners in planning their paintings. An additional session was designated for the actual painting process. Working harmoniously, the students effectively employed acrylic paint on canvas, effectively translating their ideas onto the medium. Prior to my arrival in Pinehouse, my sister assisted in sewing the canvas edges and creating casings, which would later accommodate dowels for hanging the paintings. The completed artworks were displayed in the school library for all to admire. On the project’s final day, an art show was held, and the librarian expressed the desire to keep the paintings exhibited throughout the remainder of the school year.

The school community played an integral role in supporting the art programs and exhibited a keen interest in maintaining additional arts-related initiatives. The students’ enthusiasm for exploring novel avenues of creativity and deepening their cultural understanding through the arts is evident.

– Jane Laxdal