Latest news with #AboriginalHeadStart
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Prince Rupert breaks ground for new childcare centre for Indigenous families
This May, the Kxeen Community Services Society officially broke ground to build a culturally-focused childcare facility for Rupert's Indigenous, Inuit, and Métis children. The new building will be situated in front of Roosevelt Park Elementary School and will provide 37 childcare spaces, including 12 for infants and toddlers and 25 for children aged three to five. The project is expected to be completed by 2026. The Kxeen Society is offering the initiative through the Aboriginal Head Start Association of British Columbia (AHSABC). AHSABC is a non-profit organization that provides programs in urban and northern British Columbia communities. They focus on promoting the development of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children and their families during early years of learning. 'The childcare facility will be styled after our natural coastal environment. The Infant and Toddler side of the facility will be ocean-themed, while the 3-5 years side will be rainforest-themed,' said Miranda Kessler, executive director of the Kxeen Community Services Society. 'Play equipment and outside structures will be nature-themed.' The society will take special care in providing culturally appropriate programming to the attendees. 'Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and the staff of Early Childhood Educators at the facility will focus on immersing children in the local Ts'msyen culture and language, however, practices of other Indigenous, Inuit, and Métis cultures will also be taught and celebrated,' said Kessler. 'This new facility not only expands child care capacity in Prince Rupert, but also strengthens the cultural and social fabric of our city by honouring Indigenous traditions and supporting early childhood development in meaningful ways,' said Prince Rupert's mayor Herb Pond. Kessler says the centre will welcome families to participate in all cultural activities and events to encourage the practice of culture outside of the daycare. The program will also align with the society's already established Prince Rupert Aboriginal Head Start Preschool guidelines and will come at no cost to families. The current school provides a learning space for children aged between 2.5 to 5 years. The program enhances the children's Kindergarten Readiness skills while honouring their cultural knowledge and heritage. 'Aboriginal Head Start continues its legacy of empowering young learners and supporting families with holistic, community-based programming by creating a nurturing space that celebrates language, culture, and identity,' said the City of Prince Rupert in a recent press release. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CBC
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Métis woman teaches kids to love the culture — but her own daughter surprised her
Felice Gladue has a deep passion for sharing her Métis culture with children, but she says for a brief time, her own kids were her toughest audience. Felice, whose Métis ancestry comes from St. Laurent, Man., began sharing her culture with children while working for Aboriginal Head Start, a preschool program for Indigenous kids, more than two decades ago. "I just feel such a great connection and a great sense of joy to be able to share with others about the Métis people," she said. About a decade ago she founded Metis ALIVE, a company based in Beaumont, Alta., (just south of Edmonton) to help share Métis history and traditions in schools and the community. But while she's been helping other children learn about Métis culture, Felice said she "dragged" her own kids around to events and programs to immerse them in it. "There's a point where they're kind of like those teenagers where they don't want to do anything," Felice said. Willow Gladue, now 16, agrees with that assessment. 'Mom, I can jig' "I remember hating having to go to all the events and stuff and having to say hi to people all the time," Willow said. During the pandemic that changed, the teen said. She heard about a jigging contest with prize money. "I was like, 'Oh, I can make that much money for jigging?" she said, and asked her mom if she could take part in the virtual competition. Felice said she was skeptical. "I'm like, 'Well, you need to learn,'" she remembers saying. She said she thought she would need to teach Willow the steps. However, after growing up around it, Willow says she knew what to do. "I do remember that day being like, 'Mom, I can jig. Like, I literally have watched you all these years. Of course I can jig.'" She said she remembers her mom hesitating before putting music on, but once it was on Felice was convinced. "She flat out did the Red River jig. And I was just like,'What the heck?" From there, Willow says her love of dancing grew. "I just kinda was like, 'I wanna do this.' I'm proud of my culture and I'm proud of who I am and I just, I love to dance," she said. In addition to dancing and singing, Willow also plays the fiddle, guitar, piano, drums, harmonica, ukulele and the kalimba. While she enjoys each of those, Willow said she hopes to pursue acting and attend the Vancouver Film School after high school. Working for Metis ALIVE has helped her make some money to pay for it. Willow joins Felice at presentations, even travelling out of Alberta, and demonstrates jigging. In addition to dancing, Willow has also worked to put together DIY capote (or capot) kits for dolls. The capote coats are a traditional Métis garment and "really represents our ancestors" who worked as voyageurs, trappers and traders, according to Felice. The kits — which Metis ALIVE has also sold in child and adult sizes, as well as for dogs — include all the pieces of fabric needed to make the coats, a darning needle, pattern, instructions and even a tiny Métis sash. Pride in culture Felice also tries to bring the culture and history alive through dancing, singing and acting. When visiting schools, Felice says she begins by asking if there are any Métis, Inuit or First Nations kids in the class. "Sometimes nobody will lift up their hand," she said. "But by the end of my presentation, by the end of the experience, that kid is coming up to me in a real quiet voice [saying], 'You know what, actually? I am Cree.'" She said she's asked kids why they wouldn't identify themselves at the beginning of the class, and they've said they were embarrassed. But after seeing the friends and classmates enjoy learning about Métis culture — songs and dances and stories — they have the confidence to own their identities, she said. Felice said she was pleasantly surprised to see Willow enthusiastic about getting involved with presentations and the capote kits after years of not showing interest. "But you know what? Her foundation is there. And when she was ready to come back, she came back."
