‘Brings people together': Yorkton school hosts Métis Day
WATCH: Dr. Brass School in Yorkton held its second ever Culture and History Day on Wednesday, focusing on Métis culture. Fruzsina De Cloedt has more.
Dr. Brass School in Yorkton held its second ever Culture and History Day on Wednesday, focusing on Métis culture.
The smell of bannock cooking on open fire filled the air, music was blasting from speakers, and kids were cheering each other on during a friendly game of tug-of-war.
'I love it. I honestly appreciate everybody that puts together the events in our city, brings people together, and this is just a fantastic event in all the children at the different stations doing different activities. It's really great,' Yorkton Mayor Aaron Kienle said, while overlooking the lush green courtyard of Dr. Brass School, filled with children. 'Thanks to the volunteers that make it happen,' he added.
The idea of the event came from Darcy Lepowick, a teacher at Dr. Brass School. Lepowick told CTV News that he recently got his teaching degree when he was 50-years-old.
'I just started here, and the First Nations had a powwow and a round dance, but there was no Métis culture in the school division, so we started a Métis day last year,' Lepowick explained. He said the event was so successful last year that this time, the organizers had to limit the number of students.
As he was talking, school buses were circulating around the school. Some kids were leaving, others arriving. Upon arrival, students received a map of the activities.
Métis Day
There were about 17 stations set up at Dr. Brass School in Yorkton for Métis Day. (Fruzsina De Cloedt / CTV News)
'We have some elders, Métis elders, baking bannock over the fire. We have super hot soup and bannock as well for sample meals and blueberry pudding. And the games include everything from nail pounding to axe throwing, log sawing, and wrestling,' said Lepowick as he guided CTV around campus.
At the back of the school, protected by the winds in the cool shade, were the food tasting stations.
A Métis woman behind the table explained that she learned the recipe of the lii boulette soup from her grandmother. The soup was of light colour and had some meat in it. The delicious smell brought people to form a line.
Some students were helping by giving out bannock to go with the soup. As she poured another cup of boulette for someone, the woman explained that they cut the bannock into thinner pieces - making dunking easier.
From another corner of the courtyard was the smell of wood burning. An elder who was manning the bannock station carefully kneaded and flipped the dough, while eager students waited to try a piece.
Not far from the fire was the workstation of the Saskatchewan Trappers Association. They had furs laid out on a table, and students were given the task of guessing which animal it belonged to. Those who were looking for a more graphic experience were not disappointed, as someone from the association skinned a mink.
Métis Day
Someone from the Saskatchewan Trappers Association skins a mink during Métis Day at Dr. Brass School in Yorkton. (Fruzsina De Cloedt / CTV News)
According to Lepowick, there were about 17 stations set up at the event, with about 900 students able to try out the activities important to the Métis people.
'They're all having fun,' Lepowick said. 'I guess if you talk to kids, there are lots of laughter and lots of fun, and the aim of the event is to learn and to have fun.'
Dr Brass School is proud of their Métis event and hope to bring it back for many more years to come.
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