It’s once again time for students around Canada to graduate. This includes a Mi’kmaw school called John J. Sark Memorial. This school is a wonderous place, so you might not be surprised that students feel very sad about leaving.
11-year-old Anabella Lewis, of the Lewis of Lennox Island First Nation, says “It’s like, when you’ve gone somewhere and then when you come all together, like with your family, you feel like home. That’s what my school feels like,”
Many other students feel just like Anabella: sad to leave their school.
Their school teaches a lot of the Mi’kmaw tradition, including sweet grass weaving and drumming. In the morning, they announce the weather in both Mi’kmaw and English. Then they send it, so the whole community can see it.
Although Mi’kmaw and lots of other cultures are celebrated at Sark Memorial, it was not always like that.
Back in the mid-1980s, it was an Indian day school, which was similar to a residential school, except kids went home at the end of the day rather than stay overnight. At that time, practicing Mi’kmaw traditions was illegal.
After graduating, lots of the students there will be going to Hernewood Intermediate School for Grade 7. It is about a half-hour drive away. Recently, students were taken on a field trip to their new school.
“I’m feeling quite excited because I’ve been wanting to go there for a while now,” said Riley, a student from Lewis of Lennox Island First Nation.
Anabella, who enjoys playing sports, was excited when they passed the gym. She says she can’t wait to play badminton there.
11-year-old Anabella Lewis, of the Lewis of Lennox Island First Nation, says “It’s like, when you’ve gone somewhere and then when you come all together, like with your family, you feel like home. That’s what my school feels like,”
Many other students feel just like Anabella: sad to leave their school.
Their school teaches a lot of the Mi’kmaw tradition, including sweet grass weaving and drumming. In the morning, they announce the weather in both Mi’kmaw and English. Then they send it, so the whole community can see it.
Although Mi’kmaw and lots of other cultures are celebrated at Sark Memorial, it was not always like that.
Back in the mid-1980s, it was an Indian day school, which was similar to a residential school, except kids went home at the end of the day rather than stay overnight. At that time, practicing Mi’kmaw traditions was illegal.
After graduating, lots of the students there will be going to Hernewood Intermediate School for Grade 7. It is about a half-hour drive away. Recently, students were taken on a field trip to their new school.
“I’m feeling quite excited because I’ve been wanting to go there for a while now,” said Riley, a student from Lewis of Lennox Island First Nation.
Anabella, who enjoys playing sports, was excited when they passed the gym. She says she can’t wait to play badminton there.
