Learning From the Land: Community Walk to Mohkinstsis

Today, we went on a BIG Community Walk. First, we walked to Mohkinstsis. Mohkinstsis means "elbow" in Blackfoot and Cree. Mohkinstsis is the meeting of the Elbow and Bow rivers. It is a sacred place to the Blackfoot people because in their creation story, it is known as the first place where people stepped onto the earth. Mohkinstsis became a landmark and a meeting place. It is also the symbol of reconciliation because the two rivers represent the Indigenous and Settler perspectives coming together and moving forward as one. Reconciliation means "becoming friends again." It means saying sorry and finding ways to make things right.

The first activity we did at the river was "Connecting to the River." We wrote/drew a story from a memory we have at the river. 

"One time, I came here with Mr Jackson and we are having fun and we go to St Patrick's park." ~ SS

"I went swimming in the Bow River and I went rafting in the Bow River with my cousins." ~ Viljo

"I went rafting in the Bow River and two little ducks came up to my raft asking for food." ~ Felicia

"I went on a hike in Bragg Creek which is a part of the Elbow River." ~ Milu

"The best beach ever was the Dubai beach and the best river was the Bow. It was a sunny day and we saw a lot of light reflecting in the river." ~ MM

"I take my hamster often there. He likes swimming in the Bow River." ~ Aroosha

"I went to the Bow River for my sixth birthday and it was one of the top three funnest birthday." ~ HS

"I have a special memory there that I went kayaking and I saw a beaver." ~ Nollan

Grade Four groups spread out with their adult to work on Task 1

Working on Task 1

Working on Task 1

Working on Task 1

Proud of our finished products!

Then, we got to have lunch and a play at the East Village playground. 

Task 2 was the "Who's Using the River?" Tally Chart. We tried to spot as many animals as we could using the river as their habitat.

Animal-watching

We walked back along the Elbow river. Ms Elder taught us the word: reciprocity. Reciprocity means to give back. We thanked the land for the beautiful day and all that it taught us by giving a plant a splash of water or putting the ladybugs on the trees so they don't get stepped on or giving a plant carbon dioxide with a breath.