Land and Language Learning Tools
We all share the responsibility of reconciliation.
The following supports are for all Educators and school teams and can will help bring culture, language and the land “into the classroom” - or better yet, bring the classroom outside.
What’s On Your Drum?
This video, with FNSB Director, drum-maker, and drummer Erin Pauls explains that drums are used for ceremony and celebration, so we are always mindful of the love and intention put into making them.
Yukon First Nations drummers decorate their drums with representations of things closest to their hearts. “People paint something that is really meaningful to them, something that gives them good intentions in their heart and makes them feel happy,” Erin says. “That way we are surrounded with all that love whenever we use our drums.”
As a practice of gratitude and connection, offer your Learner a blank sheet of paper with a circle on it (representing the face of a drum). Ask them to draw their own drum design.
“We Are A Circle”
Former Grade 1 teacher at Grey Mountain Primary, Kathleen Coventry, wrote and choreographed a beautiful land acknowledgement song called “We are a Circle” that unites the school in its commitment to walking the path of reconciliation. The whole school now performs this song at all assemblies and other school events, using hand and body movements with each line. You are welcome to use this song and/or change it to suit your community.
WE ARE A CIRCLE
We are a circle
All connected
To each other
On this land
We are Grey Mountain
We’re the Yukon River
With every creature
Hand in hand
Ta’an Kwach’an Council
Kwanlin Dun First Nation
We say Thank You
You share your land
Shä̀w níthän and Kwä̀nä̀schis
Shä̀w níthän and Kwä̀nä̀schis
Shä̀w níthän and Kwä̀nä̀schis
We are a circle
We are a circle
We are a circle