Students connect to new program at Jasper

{ALBUM_998669}

Students from Susa Creek School in the Northland School Division participated in a two-day pilot education program delivered by the Palisades Stewardship Education Centre.

The Teachings of the Mountain People, which is rooted in the human history of Jasper National Park, involved experiential learning as a means to connect students to a story of reconciliation.

Many of the students involved in the activities are descendants of the Aseniwuche Winewak Nation, which represents six Indigenous communities in the Grande Cache area, including the Susa Creek Cooperative.

One of the activities had the students visited the old homestead of Ewan and Madeline Moberly. The Moberly name is associated with Aseniwuche Winewak Nation and Susa Creek families.

The Teachings of the Mountain People program attempts to tell the story of the history of the fur trade in Jasper House; explores the concept of identity by appreciating how local Indigenous communities relate to land; and, promotes an understanding of the mountain environment by considering land-based practices and traditional ecological knowledge. A local knowledge keeper assists with the delivery of the program.

The Teachings of the Mountain People is targeted at Grade 7 students and tied to the Social Studies program and demonstrates reconciliation.

“The theme of reconciliation and acknowledgement is relevant learning for all students,” said Barb Schmidt, education lead, Palisades Stewardship Education Centre.

Susa Creek students, community members and an Elder provided feedback for the program, which will be available to school groups at the Centre starting in the fall of 2017.