Pimooteewin on the CBC News!

Centennial College and the Pimooteewin Closing Ceremony was mentioned at the end of CBC's evening news last night!

Click here for CBC's < VIDEO LINK > and fast forward to marker 9:30 to see our 40 second spotlight.

Program Closing Ceremony (Part 1)

March 31st, 2011 marks the last day of classes for the Pimooteewin students...

In recognition of our three semesters together with over 50 students this past year, Pimooteewin held a huge celebration tonight (March 30th). Dozens of people from the aboriginal community attended the event, sharing in the singing, dancing, and feasting to help close the program in a special Closing Ceremony. The five Elders who taught traditional teachings to the students throughout the year were also present to share their wisdom and reflections on the program.

Here was the agenda for the night:

(Part 2 will include videos and pictures from tonight's event.)

In the meantime, please watch our highlights < VIDEO CLIP > shown at the event, which includes many of the fun and exciting activities the students participated in over the course of the year.

Posted by Karen Craigs

Quick Class Poll

Today in class we asked the students a few questions about the program. Here's what they had to say:

Q: What will you take with you, having progressed through the Pimooteewin program?

"My smarts."
"My math!"
"That book that you read in class, "Rich by Thirty". I didn't get to read it but I want to."

Q: What made the most impact?

"Being motivated to do better in my life, to come to school. Time management skills will help me a lot!"
"The trips -- I've never been to the ROM or the AGO."
"The people in the classroom. It was awesome for the people who showed up regularly."
"The awesome food... and the free tokens."

Q: What would you change for next time?

"I'd change my attitude towards math next time -- it's not as bad as I think sometimes... as long as I think."
"I would change the way that it is taught, make it more strict. Like, giving consequences or more homework."
"Maybe do one take-home assignment every week."
"Windows that open."
"No windows!"
"I want to see more people, more that are willing to be here every day."
"Absolutely nothing."

Q: What are your next steps?

"I want to do more outreach in the community for the program."
"I need to find a job where I can do some reading, writing, and math."
"I'm going to try to find a job in the community, like, to work with the community."
"I want to apply to Native Child this year!"

This program has been such a unique and memorable experience for everyone involved. We'd love to hear your comments and feedback in the form below!

Posted by Karen Craigs

Making Drums

In March, special guest and local drummaker Steve Teagan came in to Centennial to teach our class how to make drums.


We used special wood and deerskin materials as a base, and Steve taught us the traditional teachings behind the story of the drum.


Check out our < VIDEO LINK > on YouTube from the day!

Posted by Karen Craigs

The Art Gallery of Ontario Trip

In the middle of February, a bunch of us took the subway downtown for the day to spend some time at the Art Gallery of Ontario.

Smerf, Kyle, and Mitch, chillin' in front of the AGO

Afterward we chatted about the galleries that were interesting or that grabbed our attention. (Unfortunately there are no photos or videos allowed inside the exhibits so we went outside to film it.)

Watch our video on YouTube here: < VIDEO LINK >

Posted by Karen Craigs

Kenekuk's prayer

Kenekuk was the last chief of the Vermillion River Kickapoo, who lived in unceded territory between the Wabash and Vermillion Rivers along what is now the Indiana- Illinois border. This is also where part of my family originates. Kenekuk was a prophet with great skills in oratory and negotation. He kept his people together in the face of increased military pressure and settler expansion through spiritual power and charisma and by adopting some aspects of the settler religion within which he maintained and revitalized the spiritual and cultural traditions of the Nations of the Northwest Confederacy. 

Kenekuk was not a war chief. He used political savvy and the newcomers own beliefs to provide a place for his people to live in their lands. He also did not shirk from conflict, lending shelter and aid to the Mesquakie (Fox) led by Blackhawk who returned to their traditional territory during what is called the Backhawk War.

By late 1835 and 1836 under threat of being  massacred by the U.S. military and mobs (militia) from local towns and facing the tremendous deprivation of winter, Kenekuk agreed to leave the Vermillion River territory and to move to reservations, first in present day Missouri and then in Kansas. One of the hundreds of trails of tears that mark our collective histories.

I wrote this poem in a moment of clarity and spiritual understanding; an understanding of the conflicted and ambivalent nature of the human condition. I found connection between the powerful and deeply moving dilemma faced by Kenekuk and his people, a dilemma also faced by hundreds of Nations on Turtle Island, and my own, much smaller yet not insignificant struggle to understand my own identity, my path in this life, and to comprehend the depth and breadth of human suffering and joy. From this internal struggle, I took Kenekuk as my spirit name to honour the spirit of this brilliant prophet. 

This is Kenekuk's prayer: 

we are human
we are native


divided skies
denied justice
hear the drum 
heartbeat call


the blood runs red
sun rises high
and the thunderbird screams
nanbush turns into salty rain


try to hide behind 
our fragile selves
made of clay
find sacred earth

the sand now slipping
through our fingers
swallows us whole
eventually


like the giant serpent ride
through dark tunnels
endless chasms sprial
downward

we search the walls
for purchase
and we grasp 
only soft sweet skin
in the fading dusk 
of our one day


finding some comfort
in the brush of a hand
and the smell of your hair


on this light we drift back
this moment might show us
eternity


and smell the sweetgrass
and cedar
the sage
and the tobacco
with which we heal
give thanks
and find 
forgiveness


forgive us our tiny souls
collective pin drops 
in the vast endlessness
of manitou and god


forgive us our ancestor
as we embrace you
your wisdom


forgive us our blindness
for we could not see:


we are human
we are native


--Keith Crowe
  Pimooteewin Learner and Teacher

Nightmares

This is a poem I wrote after having a bad dream. It`s something that is hard to explain until you have noticed it yourself. Everyone has their own views of dreams and this is mine:

 Nightmare

Sleepless nights
Dark shadows
Fighting to wake up
Crying from fear
Yelling Screaming
Not Believing
The False Facts of this Scenario
Holding her tight with the fear in her eyes
Cursing words thrown left to right
Not knowing where to turn
Running in circles
Pain surrounding my body
Shock paring through my soul
This Unknown Heavy breathing
Like I heard before
This evil laughter

That Wont leave me alone

Posted by Amanda Bourque (aka Suzy)

Someone To Love Me

This is a poem I put together after reading the back and the first chapter of the novel called ``Someone to Love Me`` By Anne Schraff. Young women today would do anything to be or to feel loved. Even if it`s all lies to keep the one that they love with them. They don`t understand what they deserve because of the relationships they`ve been involved in. No-one is showing them right from wrong or explaining to them what`s really happening. They start to isolate themselves from others and stop caring about what matters. I know from previous relationships and from what I`ve seen and heard from others: us women are stronger then we think and we need to stick together.   Well, here`s my poem called Someone To Love Me.

Someone To Love Me

She looks in the mirror
At her reflection
Blinded
Not Noticing the Black eye
She showers
Scared to press too hard
Bruises all over
In pain and in shame
Head low
Mascara dripping
Eyeliner running
The sight of Blood appearing through her clothes
The yelling from her mother
But replying with lies
Silent cries
Of the force of his hands
The vulgar voice
Of the sharp words
Cutting through her heart
Piercing through her soul
But she remains the same
Annoyed and ashamed
Taking the hits
Over and over again
The screams that noone hears but noticing to see
The fool she is and is what she chooses to be
Just Looking for someone to love me

Posted by Amanda Bourque (also known as Suzy)

Star Bundles

In early February, quilting expert Lynda Shapiro flew in from Manitoba to help students design and sew together their own star bundles.

Everyone worked diligently during this three day project, sewing together diamond-shaped fabrics into an eight-pointed geometric pattern.

These star bundles display the colours of the medicine wheel: red, yellow, white, and black.

Star bundles are typically used to keep together traditional and sacred pieces collected over a lifetime.

Check out our < VIDEO LINK > on YouTube to see how it all turned out!

Posted by Karen

Invitation to the Closing Ceremony

Your presence is being requested for a special celebration.

Please mark you calendars for Wednesday, March 30th to come and join us in celebrating the completion of the first year of our ground breaking

Pimooteewin Aboriginal Academic Upgrading Program at Centennial College

In this Celebration we will be honouring the students who took the brave step to get back into school and re-dedicate themselves to their educational journey as a means to meaningfully contribute to their personal, familial and communal success.

In unison we will also be honouring the 5 Elders who have worked with our students throughout the program to offer Traditional First Nations teachings helping to bridge the divide for our students and wider Centennial College community between traditional and mainstream education.

Posted by Rachel