Jan. 25th, 2012 – Drum Making Workshop Pictures

YMCA Academy Arts, Community, English and Humanities, Experiential Learning, Native Studies

Students in the Aboriginal Voices class participated in a workshop on making Aboriginal hand drums led by Steve Teekens, traditional drummer, singer, dancer and teacher from the Ojibway First Nation.  The workshop took place at the beautiful Dodem Kanonhsa’ Elder’s Cultural Facility at St. Clair and Yonge, which is supported by the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto (NCCT) and Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC).  Students listened to Steve tell an Ojibway story about the drum and used traditional materials and techniques to make their own.  We are grateful to Amy Desjarlais for including us in the workshop and to Steve for sharing his knowledge with us.

Check out the rest of the pictures on our Facebook Page!

Visit the Dodem Kanonhsa Website

Oct. 20th, 2011 – ImagineNATIVE Film Festival

YMCA Academy English and Humanities, Experiential Learning, Native Studies

The Native Studies class attended the Welcome Gathering to officially open the 2011 ImagineNATIVE Film and New Media Festival – a festival that showcases films, videos, installations and web art from Indigenous groups worldwide.  We were treated to delicious food, vendors selling art and jewellery as well as a number of amazing performances from musicians and dancers from South Africa, Russia and Canada.

Check out the rest of the pictures on our Facebook Page!

Jan. 18th, 2011 – Elder visits Native Studies class

YMCA Academy Community, English and Humanities, Experiential Learning, Native Studies

The Grade 11 Current Aboriginal Issues in Canada class was fortunate to be able to host elder Jacquie Lavelley from the Native Canadian Centre in Toronto.  Devin Davis, programmer with the Aboriginal Education Outreach Network, accompanied Jacquie in her visit to the Academy and students greeted them with warmth and premiere snacks.  Sitting in circle, Jacquie shared stories and ceremonies from local Anishnabe culture and spoke about her childhood, family life and education.  Students had the opportunity to ask questions towards the end of the ceremony.  We are grateful for the assistance that the Native Canadian Centre has given to our class this semester and look forward to continuing our relationship in the future.  Jacquie, thank you so much for visiting us and sharing your knowledge with us.

Native Canadian Centre Website

YMCA Academy students with elder Jacquie Lavelley and Devin Davis

Sept. 20th, 2010 – Trip to Native Canadian Centre

YMCA Academy English and Humanities, Experiential Learning, Native Studies

The grade 10 history class and the grade 11 Native studies class are heading to Toronto’s Native Canadian Centre to see a presentation about the history of Aboriginal peoples in Canada.  Some things we are going to learn about include information about the three distinct groups of Aboriginal people in Canada (First Nations, Métis and Inuit), the history of residential schools and the impacts on today’s generation as well as impacts of the Indian Act and reserves.  There will be a special section on the history of Toronto which includes information on the Toronto Purchase Specific Claim, the Mississaugas of New Credit, the Toronto Islands and the Nations that reside in this area and Southern Ontario.  There is an art gallery that we will view as well as other artefacts and information.  It’s going to be hot and sunny tomorrow, so it will be a great day for a walk over to the centre.

www.ncct.on.ca