September 29, 2023

On Tuesday, October 10, at 12-noon, some 250 students from five Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon secondary schools will attend a presentation from the Sultans of String group entitled "Walking Through the Fire". Presented by Café Héritage in Collège Boréal's Salle Trisac, the show will feature non-Indigenous artists who will be joined by First Nations, Métis and Inuit artists, all from Turtle Island. The following group of students will attend the event: grade 9 and 10 from ÉSC Jeunesse-Nord (Blind River); grade 9 and 10 from ÉSC La Renaissance (Espanola); grade 10 from Collège Notre-Dame (Sudbury); grade 10 from ÉS du Sacré-Cœur (Sudbury) and grade 10 from ÉSC Champlain (Chelmsford).

A central theme of the presentation is the need to tell the whole truth about residential schools and the Aboriginal perspective of the experience long before reconciliation can take place. Dr. Duke Redbird, a Grammy-nominated elder and poet, and Chris McKhool, band leader, spearheaded this project. By focusing on the truth, we can begin a journey towards reconciliation together and help cultures to understand each other.

The Sultans of String, who have had songs top the charts, have won six Canadian Folk Music Awards (CFMA). Their show 'Walking Through the Fire' is described as a unique musical and multimedia experience. Music featured include Métis fiddling as performed at an East Coast kitchen party, from rumba to rock, and Pacific Northwest percussion. The following artists will take the stage: Alyssa Delbaere-Sawchuk of the Métis Fiddler Quartet; Marc Meriläinen (Nadjiwan), Ojibwe/Finnish singer-songwriter; Shannon Thunderbird, Tsm'syen singer-songwriter from the Pacific Northwest. They will be joined by virtual guests such as Elder and poet Dr. Duke Redbird, the Northern Cree pow wow group, Kendra Tagoona and Tracy Sarazin.

The Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon offers a French-language Catholic Educational Program that is widely recognized for its excellence. The CSC Nouvelon provides a quality learning environment and academic program that runs from early childhood to adult education, with some 5,900 students enrolled in 27 elementary, 1 virtual school and 10 secondary schools.

Source:
Paul de la Riva
Director of Communications and External Relations
Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon
705-673-5626, ext. 294
705-677-8195 (cell)