On April 6, schools across SD 73 held virtual 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 gatherings 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 'Courage to Explore and Embrace Your Identity Which Involves Connection to Family, Community, and Culture'.
At BEST we used the resources provided for us by the District. At the whole school gathering BEST students watched a story written and told by Trudy Nielsen called 'Fox's Coming of Age' and learned about medicine wheels and how they are used. We each proceeded to make our own wooden medicine wheel to take home. BEST students and staff also participated this week in creating a wonderful wall mural with our hand prints in the coloured quadrant corresponding to our birthday season. The mural was unveiled at our whole school gathering and will be hung near the entry to the school. Other activities were provided in individual classrooms throughout the day.
The Day of Sucwentwecw is a day to celebrate and acknowledge one another and we would like to think that we at BEST do just that every day and not solely on April 6.
At BEST we used the resources provided for us by the District. At the whole school gathering BEST students watched a story written and told by Trudy Nielsen called 'Fox's Coming of Age' and learned about medicine wheels and how they are used. We each proceeded to make our own wooden medicine wheel to take home. BEST students and staff also participated this week in creating a wonderful wall mural with our hand prints in the coloured quadrant corresponding to our birthday season. The mural was unveiled at our whole school gathering and will be hung near the entry to the school. Other activities were provided in individual classrooms throughout the day.
The Day of Sucwentwecw is a day to celebrate and acknowledge one another and we would like to think that we at BEST do just that every day and not solely on April 6.
