Honouring the Seven Grandfathers Art Gala

By Meghan deLagran, Riverside Public School Kindergarten Teacher

Riverside Public School (RPS) is committed to Truth and Reconciliation. As part of that commitment, the staff and students have recently been a part of two school-wide projects. 

In RPS’s latest project, students are learning about the Seven Grandfather Teachings, and interpreting their learning through artwork, with the help of Oshbeenis (helper) (Dave) Rice and the Huntsville Arts Society. 

With support from Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) Indigenous Education consultant Holly Groome, Oshbeenis (Dave) Rice spoke with RPS students at the end of February. He taught the Seven Grandfather Teachings which are the guiding principles of the Anishbawbi People. The students engaged with ideas around love, respect, humility, honesty, truth, courage, and wisdom at assemblies that were tailored by age group. During the assemblies, Skahbewis (helper) Rice talked with students, asking them what each teaching meant to them, and why each one is important for living a good life. Since February, classrooms have been learning more about Oshbeenis (Dave) Rice’s teachings through books, videos, and conversations. 

Now the time has come to reflect on the learning. To do this, RPS has partnered with the Huntsville Arts Society’s “Artists in the Classroom.” On April 19, artists in various mediums ranging from textiles to acrylics, to sculpting and print-making, will work with RPS classes to help them demonstrate their learning about the Seven Grandfather Teachings. Each class from Grades 1 to 8 will be assigned an artist, in a given medium, as well as one of the Seven Grandfather Teachings to interpret through art. Kindergarten classes will also be creating artwork in order to show their understanding of the Grandfather teaching of love. 

The entire school’s artwork will be on display at the “Honouring the Seven Grandfathers Art Gala”, taking place in the RPS gym on May 11th from 5-8 pm The Gala is open to RPS families to come and learn about the Seven Grandfather Teachings while admiring the artwork. 

Truth and Reconciliation happens in large part through building important relationships with members of Indigenous communities. Working with Oshbeenis (Dave) Rice on this project is an honour, because he has helped the staff and students to better understand, and affirm, Indigenous ways of knowing and being. As Oshbeenis (Dave) Rice explained, it is by learning about each other, and our unique worldviews, that we can build peaceful communities. The “Honouring the Seven Grandfather’s Art Gala” is an invitation to see beautiful artwork, but more importantly, it is an invitation to bring understanding about Indigenous worldviews and ways of knowing, so that we can live in peace and understanding as a community. 

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