March 28, 2014

From Monday, March 31 to Friday, April 4, students from four Conseil scolaire du Nouvel-Ontario (CSCNO) elementary schools in Greater Sudbury will interact with Native leaders in a learning activity that will enable both students and teaching staff to benefit by discovering the bounty of Métis and First Cultures. Members of the media are invited to attend.

Kindergarten to grade 8 students at École St-Augustin (648 O’Neil Drive West, Garson) will meet the Métis voyageur Christian Pilon from Monday, March 31, to Friday, April 4, in the school library, where this former Azilda resident will construct a six-foot birch bark canoe and initiate St-Augustin students to rudiments of canoe-building. On Friday, April 4, at 11:30 a.m., students and staff will gather in the school gymnasium to celebrate the launch of the canoe that Mr. Pilon will have built during his visit at École St-Augustin.

A participant in the Destination Nor’Ouest televised series, Christian Pilon embodies the joie de vivre of his French-Canadian ancestors, the love of nature and birch bark canoes of his Algonquin-Anishinaabe forefathers, the pleasure of sharing enjoyed by the Huron Wendat peoples and the power of his Iroquois-Haudenosaunee ancestors. An impassioned role model, Christian uses the art of building birchbark canoes as a tool for teaching in schools and for promoting the diversity of his Franco-Ontarian identity.

Marcel Labelle, from the Métis and Anishinaabe nations, will visit École Notre-Dame de la Merci (2 Edward Ave, Coniston) on Monday, March 31, from 9 to 11 a.m.; École St-Dominique (2096 Montfort St, Sudbury) on Wednesday, April 2, from 9 to 11 a.m.; and École St-Joseph (100 Bruyère St., Sudbury) on Friday, April 4, from 1 to 2:45 p.m. During his visits to the three schools, Marcel Labelle will meet grade 6 students, recount the importance of the canoe for Métis and Native communities and teach the rudiments of birch-bark canoe-building, enabling the students to build their own one-foot miniature birch-bark canoe. During this exercise, a twelve-foot canoe will be on display in the school.

Marcel Labelle is a proud Métis whose personal mission is to spread and develop the culture handed down by his Algonquin-Anishinaabe and French-Canadian ancestors. In his Mattawa family, he grew up appreciating the value and importance of propagating Métis songs, recipes and traditions. Today, Marcel gives back to his community by sharing the knowledge he has learned over the years from his mentors and Elders.

The CSCNO, whose Aboriginal Education program is amongst the most proactive in Ontario, is offering this opportunity to its students to support Native students (First Nation, Métis and Inuit) and help them reach their full potential. The Board’s program includes initiatives that support awareness, learning and success at school, and seeks to instill pride and belonging towards the Native cultures.

The Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario offers a French Catholic Educational Program that is widely recognized for its excellence. The CSCNO provides a quality academic program that runs from early childhood to adult education, with some 7,000 students in 27 elementary and 10 secondary schools.

Info:      

Paul de la Riva
Communications and Community Development Coordinator
Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario
(705) 673-5626, ext. 294
(705) 677-8195 – cell phone