Yesterday, on April 7, schools across SD 73 held assemblies and activities to honour and recognize Secwepemc and Nlaka'Pamux territory as well as other First Nations and Aboriginal groups. In Kamloops Thompson School District this is now known as the "Day of Sucwentwecw." Sucwentwecw (sook-went-wa) means to acknowledge one another. During this day a number of events, activities and assemblies were held to recognize the Secwepemc and Nlaka'Pamux Nation and to teach students and staff about the traditional aboriginal and First Nations people, their histories and the territories SD 73 now occupies. The theme for this year's Day of Sucwentwecw was 'Connecting to the Land.'
At BEST our assembly opened with the hand-drum group singing the Welcome Song. We were honoured to have Dessa Gottfriedson as a guest speaker and Sintse's dad, Lyle Thomas, told us a Creator story about Grasshopper. Mrs. Farber's class drummed and sang the Hello Song and Ms. Steffenson's class presented the Porcupine Song after Mr. Bowser told us Porcupine's story. Mr. Hummel's grade ones recited a poem and both Mr. Bowser and Mr. Hembling gave closing remarks. The Day of Sucwentwecw is a day to celebrate and acknowledge one another and I would like to think that we at BEST do just that every day and not solely on April 7.
At BEST our assembly opened with the hand-drum group singing the Welcome Song. We were honoured to have Dessa Gottfriedson as a guest speaker and Sintse's dad, Lyle Thomas, told us a Creator story about Grasshopper. Mrs. Farber's class drummed and sang the Hello Song and Ms. Steffenson's class presented the Porcupine Song after Mr. Bowser told us Porcupine's story. Mr. Hummel's grade ones recited a poem and both Mr. Bowser and Mr. Hembling gave closing remarks. The Day of Sucwentwecw is a day to celebrate and acknowledge one another and I would like to think that we at BEST do just that every day and not solely on April 7.
