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An elder talks with students in the stands at last year's Canadian Aboriginal festival
FEATURE

Canadian Aboriginal Festival

Sherry Ramrattan Smith

Thousands of elementary students and their teachers will be at Toronto's SkyDome on November 29 to attend Education Day - Aboriginal Teaching Circle. Five years ago, in response to requests from teachers, this education component became an important part of the Canadian Aboriginal Festival The objectives of the Education Day are to give students a positive Aboriginal experience and to instill in them a desire to learn more about Aboriginal peoples.

The day's program is planned around the grade 6 curriculum on Native studies. Although grade 6 is the median, the event has appeal for students and teachers from grades 3 to 8.

Over 30 teaching stations are mounted around the SkyDome, each of them taught by a knowledgeable Aboriginal instructor. Stations include topics such as hands-on crafts, dwellings, dancers' regalia, the Metis and more.

The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario, the Ontario Teachers' Federation, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada are assisting Indian Art-I-Crafts of Ontario, a non-profit Aboriginal organization, in planning this event.

The day is financed through the generosity of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Bank of Montreal and Historica and through the registration of $7.00 per student. Without assistance from these sponsors, the registration fee would be more than double.

For more information, please visit wwwxanab.com or call Sherry Ramrattan Smith at ETFO's provincial office.