- Peel District School Board
- OSSTF District 19, and the
- Native Education Association of Ontario
The Reserve is directly adjacent to the Six Nations Reserve in southern Ontario. The MNCFN Reserve is about about 2500 acres in size. This is a bit more than two country blocks (a country block contains 10 farms of 100 acres each, in a rectangular pattern).
It is also a picturesque, fulgant green spot. On the map above, you can see it outlined in green because a significant portion resembles beautiful park land. The Reserve Urban Planning Committee has designated one third of the Reserve as virgin forest, and an additional one third as cultivated green space. The Elders also encourage reserve residents to plant native species. The day's events unfolded at Lloyd S. King Elementary School:
- A traditional drum ceremony by the students
- A traditional greeting and guided tour of the school given by Max King
- A comprehensive overview of the beautiful mural which depicts the history of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation by Kim Sault, a teaching elder
- Margaret Sault and Carolyn King providing an overview of treaty information regarding the MNCRN, and the historical timelines of Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation
- A bus tour visiting the Old United Church, the Grove, a gift shop and commercial ventures such as the Reserve commercial complex
The mural is a visual depiction of the First Nation's history. Kim Sault, a teaching elder, spent an hour with us, explaining the concepts and symbolism of the mural in detail. The mural has five main parts that describe the:
- Anishinabe (Ojibway) Creation Story and teachings
- Transition from woodland life to village life at Credit River in the Mississauga/Toronto area
- Relocation from traditional land to the present location and the residential schools that forced assimilation
- Participation in World Wars I and II, acknowledging the many members that enlisted
- and a vision for the future, youth seeking guidance of elders for journey into future
The mural starts with the Anishinabe (Ojibway) Creation Story, which you can see below.
The story begins with seven circles representing the seven fires of creation. Starting from the left, the black circle represents the void and the white circle represents the first thought that appeared. The next two circles describes first the appearance of the sun and then the moon. The sun and the moon are in close proximity, representing the unfolding of twinness. Mixed together, these became the spiral circle, which became the first movement, causing universe to move and to be balanced by the four directions. The first thoughts of the Creator and shaped them into kernels of seeds containing the essence of life, and the birds then spread the seeds of thought on the Creation of Earth. The final fire was creating man in the Creator's own image.
It is a very beautiful and powerful story that shapes the Mississaugas of New Credit First Nation, linking the past with the present and the future. It clearly provides an sound moral compass to the First Nation and shapes their progress as a people, together, as they make decisions for the future. Part of my vision as a teacher is creating global citizens. I found this trip very helpful in broadening my worldview and discovering more about Canada and our heritage.
As Tony Pontes reiterated in a personal message to all Peel Board employees, the Peel Region is on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation. This trip was an opportunity for all of us to recognize the value of diversity. Living in Peel is a gift. It was also a reminder that all Canadians are “treaty people” and that Canada would not be the culturally diverse, compassionate and prosperous country we know today without the First Nations peoples.
I will definitely share with my students.
No comments:
Post a Comment