September Cultural Calendar Ideas

How is the month of September translated in the territory of your program?  What is happening in nature right now, where you are? What word would you give it? What do the children suggest? What are the current teachings/ messaging from your Elders and Knowledge keepers? Are there any community gatherings this month? Why and where? This can lead to interesting conversations and connections made to certain locations and placenames. 

Turtle Teachings

The back of the turtle has 13 marks, corresponding to the 13 moons many nations have.  The moons, changing seasons, and associated activities marked times of the year.  These teachings were outlawed through colonization – however nations are bringing these teachings back. 

There are 28 marks outside the turtle shell, mirroring the 28-day moon cycle. The Moon circles Earth every 28 days. When the moon circles there is a gravitational pull, especially on water such as lakes and oceans. The moon causes tides, creating a rhythm that has guided humans for thousands of years. We are also made with water, and we can also feel this gravitational pull.  The moon is our teacher and is closely linked to women and women’s medicine. For many nations, women are the “Keepers of the Water.” Most water life also spawns according to the cycles of the moon. Kinanaskomiten to Cree Elder Neegani Penasee Don Campbell for assisting with this month’s teachings, to inspire AHS Programs.

National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

At AHS we believe every day is a day for truth and reconciliation. The national holiday is a good reminder to evaluate and add resources, and to partner with other organizations, in bringing awareness and attention.

Gentle Truth Telling: Talking to the youngest in our community

Starting this journey can feel like a big hurdle. Our youngest community members also hear snippets of news or overhear older kids talking. 

AHS’s child-centred programs set a goal of serving as a ‘village’ in the sense there is a shared care and responsibility for children by family, community Elders, and teachers. The intention of Restoring our Spirit is to reclaim what residential schools took away. 

Awasisak Achakos AHS staff share this guidance, “When we talk about residential school with our littles, we approach it by first talking about what we absolutely love about our school. We go around the circle and ask, what do you love about HeadStart? Sometimes it’s food. Sometimes it’s the singing and the dancing or learning to speak in Cree or Michif.”

These conversations form a foundation for Orange T-shirt Day. Moving smoothly from celebrating what the young ones love about their school, to recognizing that, in the past, these things were not allowed at residential schools. There is a factual but careful sharing that “kids their age went to [residential] schools that didn’t allow them to sing in their language, and they didn’t allow them to go to powwows, hoop dance or jig.”

Since the children are so young, that’s as far as the conversation goes. It’s presented as “Did you know?” and focus on the celebration that happens when children come together.

Author and familiar friend of AHSABC Monique Gray-Smith says she feels it’s her responsibility to provide gentle door openers for conversations and sharing hard truths of our collective history.

She provides these concrete tips for creating safer spaces for these conversations happen.

Who am I? “Knowing where you are at,” Smith says. Some people have a hesitancy to talk about residential schools if they are not part of their lived story. It’s ok to not know everything. The important thing is knowing now, together.

Go to Elders for guidance. Not everyone has this privilege, but if you have Elders, ask them what they think needs to happen for a conversation to feel safe.

Share that children were hurt, but without providing details of abuses. This is developmentally appropriate and as a rule it acknowledges kids are all coming from different experiences and information. “Hurt” to someone who knows about trauma will speak volumes. It’s just as strong to someone who doesn’t know “trauma.” The details will be asked later, when children are older and ready.

Human rights laws. Smith says it’s important to let children know there are laws in place now to protect children all over the world. This will let them know there has been forward movement, and they have a right to feel safe.

Create a space for the conversation. This means turning electronics off. No TV. No phone ringing. No checking social media if it beeps. To respect the conversation is to give it full attention.

Find out what they know. Kids talk and they will hear things. Ask them what they know and work from there.

Why don’t they know? That question might be an expanded theme for older kids who ask why it’s not in schools. It’s key to tell kids there were deliberate attempts made to not disclose information about the residential school experience. The fact not everyone learned this in school is a huge part of the discussion.

Make sure it is a two-way conversation. Pause for their emotions to come out, and your own. It sets a good example for them—you are sad, hurt, overwhelmed. It’s human and healthy.

Sit close. Human contact will reduce cortisol levels that come with stress. Smith notes that is a need we can meet as simply as by holding their hands while we read or speak of residential schools.

Trauma runs deep with generations raised with the unwritten rules of residential schools: Don’t talk. Don’t trust. Don’t feel. Don’t love. Those rules penetrated so profoundly, says Smith.

“That’s why I think this was such an awakening right now. Because the truth is being told, the love is being felt. That’s why we have to make sure that the sacredness of those feelings is held up with dignity and that we listen.” 

“Hold space for those stories to be heard, honored and respected,” says Smith.

Read more in Gentle Truth Telling.

Across the country, hundreds of local activities will be taking place to commemorate the history and legacy of residential schools.    Please check to see the most recent updates to Indigenous mental health supports and Reconciliation Dialogue Guides. See also this Resource for educators and parents.

September Programming Preparations

In BC, the fall salmon run is from the end of September to the beginning of October. This provides a unique learning experience for children and families in the outdoors. Salmon has significant cultural importance to nations in BC. This is a great teaching opportunity for Elders, community members and parents to share their knowledge. Salmon teachings can be incorporated in all daily activities– songs, dance, stories, food sharing, art, science!  Is your program able to see the salmon run in your community? Are there guests in community you can invite to teach the importance of Salmon?

How will you incorporate the 13 moons teachings for your nation(s) this month? What creative ideas and hands-on approaches does your team have around this month’s moon?

What land-based activities can your program participate in, to reinforce cultural teachings for this season? How will your team incorporate the concepts of Truth and Reconciliation into your month? Who will you bring in to support these teachings and what resources will you use? Does your host nation(s) have turtle teachings?  If not, consider inviting other nations’ Elders and or family members to share about turtle healing medicine, and other turtle teachings.

Program Planning Resources

• Turtle-Connections-To-First-Nations-Culture.pdf
• https://www.torontozoo.com/pdfs/tic/cur2.pdf
• Salmon tool kit   
• Salmon education videos
• Salmon unit ideas 
• Spirit Bear’s guide to TRC Calls to Action

Art Centre

• Provide playdough, plasticine, markers, pencil crayons and paper, and yarn in a wide range of skin tones, eye colour and hair colours.
• Include popsicle sticks, paper bags and other items children can make puppets out of.
• Post the names of assorted colours at the children’s level and in their Indigenous languages.
• Use fallen leaves from the ground to make artistic creations these can be glued on canvas, used to make designs on wax paper etc.
• Make a mural depicting the fall salmon run – have the children create salmon in a variety of ways to add to this mural.

Science

• Falling leaves/lifecycle of a tree 
• Salmon life cycle and identification 
• Composting
• Animal Habitats
• How berries and plants change during the seasons

Crafts for September

Host a parent-child craft event – this can be at your Welcoming/Back to School Event, or can be a special lunch, or orientation day activity.  Ideas: Decorating a picture frame for a family photo with materials such as salmon or whitefish scales, a fall craft that little hands can help with, a turtle shaped rattle out of hide, decorating a fabric bag that can be left at the centre to hold spare clothes, or personalizing an orange shirt etc.

Make easy craft turtle rattles with the children that can be used at circle time for fun about learning about the importance of turtle through songs and stories

Sensory Ideas

With the falling leaves and other natural items available due to the weather and season changing this is a great time to experience sensory play in the outdoors. Raking leaves, jumping in leaf piles, collecting and sorting sticks, acorns, and leaves. Use children’s Indigenous language(s) for colours and go on a scavenger hunt to find natural items in these colours. Fall-scented paints and playdough can be brought outdoors to paint with leaves or make leaf imprints in playdough.  Apple, pear, peach, pumpkin, are all great fall scented playdough ideas

Health Promotion

Innovative Ideas: Conayt 

Elder Willard Wallace, Mount Currie BC – Statlimx showed the children and staff how to make his Crabby/ Salmon Patties. The children enjoyed time spent cooking with Elder Willard. 

Plan fun and engaging ideas for the children to help prepare their food items.  Invite Elders and knowledge keepers along with children to pick fruits, berries and forage out on the land.

• Jams and jellies, muffins, scones and loaves can be made with children and families out of these items. Create a documentation board as a visual display/presentation for children and families.
• Visit a salmon run, smoke house or fish drying area make the connection between the fish the children eat and catching and preparing it! 

• Gather the last of the seasonal herbs from the garden and send home with salad dressing ideas for families to make their own dressing that is fresh low and sugar and preservatives.
• Take the children to the orchard/farmers market to get apples and pears. Make meals with children such as applesauce and canned pears or plums.

Visit a corn field and have the children help with gathering the corn. Follow up by having the corn in the sensory table to shuck and then make for lunch to make the connection between gathering, preparing, cooking and eating.  Talk about the Indigenous Connection to corn and the cousins in the east. Start introducing teachings of the Three Sisters that can continue in the month of October.  

Indigenous Foods and Wellness Link of the Month

• Coast Salish stories about the significance of cultural foods.

Recipes for the Month

This Corn Bread Muffin recipe from our eastern cousins is the perfect item to serve with all your newly-made, wild fruit jams and jellies. It would also be great with sage maple butter. Blue corn meal is available from https://ultrafoods.ca/shop/blue-cornmeal/ Check out these salmon recipes from  AHS programs across the province: Thilelum Smuneem, Hohuduleh Bayoh

Prince Rupert,  Xaxe Stelikel 

Playful additions

Building Block/ Construction Area

Add items such as a train set, conductors’ hat, fireman and other community helpers’ hats and vehicles to the building block and construction area. Pictures of these community helpers actively working their trades at the children’s level will help children to expand their play opportunities and the stories and scenarios they create. Set up a natural environment of what a salmon run would look like. Have baskets of blocks and fish for the children to add. 

Math Centre

Set out measuring tapes, rulers, string, sticks, ribbons, balance scales, scoops, cups, jars, funnels, water, sand, soil, or seeds so children can measure, pour, fill, empty, weigh, compare, and estimate. Children can measure sticks, leaves, garden beds, pathways, tables, or even themselves using blocks, handprints, footsteps, or string. Suggestions by AHS Advisor Jessica Jarvis.

Lofty Ideas

Turn your loft into a grocery store, restaurant, movie theatre, hair salon, airplane, hospital or any other place of interest this month.  Use props and be creative to inspire innovative ideas in play! For those that don’t have a loft be creative use classroom items to make a creative place to play.

Dramatic Play Area

Make available a wide range of regalia available to try on with a mirror close by to look at themselves. Cedar hats, button blankets, moccasins and mukluks, Cowichan sweaters, and hats, pow wow regalia and ribbon shirts are some examples.  Have books and pictures that show Indigenous people in regalia and at ceremony/ events in the dramatic play area. Set up an interactive area that features scenery to make children feel they are at a river, in a forest, in the mountains or another geographical area.

Reading Area

Provide comfortable items such as pillows and furs in the reading area, with a wide range of big books, regular books, and board books. Include flannel stories and listening stories. Consider having books that depict the salmon run and have stories about salmon fishing.  Also add forest animal puppets and stuffed animals. Borrow a salmon resource kit.  Have a selection of seasonal books available. 

Innovative Ideas–Power of Friendship AHS

The team selects 2 children to help drum the prayer song with Elder Leona. They start with warming the drum and all the children join in by using their hands. Elder Leona goes over how to respect the drum before they start using the drum at the beginning of the year.

Circle Time

Invite Elders, Knowledge Keepers or family members to bring in a turtle shell or turtle rattle to share turtle teachings. 

September is a time many sites welcome new children in – as the five-year-olds from the previous year have left for their journey into kindergarten. Hang pictures of previous grads up so children so discussions can have conversations on the journey from AHS to Kindergarten. This will prepare the children who will be moving on the following year. This is a perfect time for Welcome songs, name games and other fun activities that include Indigenous languages and introduction to Elders, Knowledge Keepers and community members. Children take immense pride in learning how to introduce themselves in their Indigenous language and this is also a wonderful way to have the older children role model the skills they have learned from the previous year!  Discuss with children their favourite things that happen at Head Start! Read The Orange Shirt Story (Preschool Version) by Phylis Webstad – have a gentle discussion on feelings and what made the girl feel the way she did. 

Innovative Ideas– Aboriginal Mother Centre AHS Vancouver 

Shared books about Orange Shirt Day for preschoolers and talked about the Orange shirt day with children. Orange shirts for the daycare children were provided, and a picture was taken to share with the families and community.

Naptime may be an intimidating experience for new children attending for the first time. Indigenous songs and lullabies may help with this transition. AHS Centers were gifted a special CD of Cree lullabies that can be used.  A songbook was included, and these can be sung at the circle time before nap to get children ready for the quiet, restful atmosphere. 

Other Lullaby Ideas: 

• Nikamo : Jason Burnstick (Plains Cree) and Nadia Gaudet
• Dream Big Little One – Jason Burnstick (Plains Cree) and Nadia Gaudet 
• Ninestosin and Kayas Nehiyaw – Elder Dr. Winston Wuttunee 
• Kim Gouchie- Nkessih Cho and Too Beh Ts’ughuna

Does your nation have lullabies or soft music that would be purposeful for rest time? Have a discussion with your Elders/Knowledge Keepers for Indigenous practices that promote restfulness.

Traditional Parenting Session Ideas 

Guest Speaker Ideas

 Please consult with local nations’ Elders/ Knowledge keepers for planning purposes. 

• Invite a Sun Dancer to explain the purpose and significance of the Sundance Ceremony. 
• Invite a female Elder to talk with the women about the purpose and function of full moon ceremonies. 
•  Invite a male Elder to talk with the men about the purpose and function of warrior societies. 
•   Invite an Elder to share their Creation story. 
• Invite an Elder in to speak on Aboriginal teachings about dreaming and dream-time. 

Art and Creative Activities for parents

• Develop a creative visualization or meditation with the theme fire. Give them a fire visualization to help prepare them for the development of their own script. 
• Make a large circle puzzle with at least eight positive “I” statements on each puzzle about things they can do to look after themselves, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Have the participants try the positive circle puzzles made by the others. 
• Invite participants to draw a tree, any type. When everyone is finished, have participants hold their drawings up, and point out the number of roots going to mother earth. Discuss with participants how there is much more than what is seen on the surface, reminding them of what our Elders teach us; that is, to look deep to the root of things, and to look at how things are interconnected.  
• Write stories of funny things their children did which taught them a lesson about life. 
•  Make a collage of positive Indigenous women role models in their families, community, and nation. Have the participants present their collage to the group. 
• Make a collage of positive Indigenous male role models in their families, community, and nation. Have the participants present their collage to the group.  Write a story about their personal experience with cultural parenting teachings. 
•  Have the participants write a letter to their children which is not meant to be sent. At the end of the activity, they are given the option to burn the letter in a sacred fire with tobacco and other offerings of their choice. 

Circle Talks

• Run a Talking Circle with the theme fire. Ask participants how they have connected with the element of fire. Discuss how they can help teach their children to respect fire. 

Brainstorm Activities

Brainstorm the definition of self-esteem. Ask participants to discuss how traditional cultural parenting can help improve their own self-esteem and that of their children. Invite participants to choose a fascinating person and discuss what they admire about that individual

Ideas adapted from Wabano Parenting Bundle  

Outdoor Ideas 

Invite Elders and families to join children in experiencing the seasonal changes on the land by visiting local salmon runs, spending time outdoors, and taking walks to observe the signs of early fall. 

Invite Elders and families out to see the salmon run in designated spots around communities across the province

Spend as much time as possible outdoors having the children experience the changes to the season. This is a fun time for walks, time on the land collecting and foraging, and enjoying the last of the picnic season. With all the many colours Fall will bring in mid-September, this is a terrific opportunity to reinforce and teach Medicine Wheel colours.

Rosehips an important medicine and food for many Nations and will be ready to be picked. Juniper Berries, nettle seeds, burdock, yarrow, and hawthorn berries will be ready.

In the garden, this will be the last harvest of herbs such as sage, mint, oregano, and thyme. Show children how to dry these to be used later. 

In many places, it is apple and pear season. Take the children to a local orchard to experience the sights, smells, and feel of orchard life. If you are in a Northern community, take the children to the farmers and local grocery markets that will have these items on display and readily available.  If this is not accessible to your community order dried fruits and have the children learn to identify the fruit once dry.   

Innovative Ideas- Little Cub AHS

Little Cub AHS travelled with families and Elders to Nakazdli Whutenne territory to experience the salmon run, drying meat and fish!

Elder and Knowledge Keeper Involvement

Kookum Bonnie from Beaver Lake Cree First Nation gives medicine teachings to the children at Clever Raven AHS during her scheduled Culture/ Knowledge connections with the program.

• Invite Elders and Knowledge keepers to be involved in daily programming, according to activities they enjoy.
• Ask them to share and introduce themselves and host circle time activities. This can include drumming, singing, jigging and other dancing, leading nature walks and on-the-land activities, and of course, playtime (indoors or outdoors). 
• Invite Elders to help host reconciliation activities with families that include language and cultural teachings.  Some examples may be orange shirt day pins, moccasin vamp beading, embroidery project, quilt squares to make a friendship quilt, storytelling, spoon and jigging event or a talking circle.
• Host a special feast/ meal to gather families and Elders to promote togetherness and discuss The Day of National Truth and Reconciliation.

Innovative Ideas – Kermode Preschool

Chef Pam made fry bread with the children for a celebration.  Elder Barb (Kitselas) made crab apple jelly with the children!  

Crab Apple Jelly

7 c prepared juice
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 box Certo Pectin
9 c granulated sugar

Remove blossom and stem ends from 7 lbs tart apples. Finely chop unpeeled apples, place in large saucepan. Stir in 6 cups of water. Bring to a boil: cover. Simmer 10 mins.

Crush apples; simmer, covered additional 5 mins. 

Extracting Juice

Place prepared fruit in jelly bag; hand and let drip into bowl until dripping stops. Press bag gently to remove any remaining juices. For clearer jelly, use 1.5 times the measure of fruit , and do not squeeze the filled jelly bag. If insufficient juice, add up to ½ cup water.

Cooked Jams

Mix prepared fruit, lemon juice and certo pectin crystals in large saucepan

Bring to a boil on high heat, stir in sugar, return to boil; cook 1 min.

Remove from heat. Stir and skim 5 mins to prevent fruit from floating to surface. Pour into warm sterilized jars, filling up to ¼ in from rims. Cover with lids let stand at room temp 24 hrs or until set.

Cooked jellies can be stored unopened on the shelf for up to a year. Sterilized jars, lids, and utensils are necessary when preparing cooked jelly.

Parent Involvement

Ask families to send in a photo of a special summer memory and make a memory board for the children. 

Promote Orange Shirt Day/ National Day of Truth and Reconciliation activities and events, as well as resources and supports. Have a copy of the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to action in your parent area: https://nctr.ca/publications-and-reports/reports/

This is often a difficult subject for parents to explain to the 3-5 age group so gentle books on the subject can be sent home. Conversations can happen between parents/ caregivers/Elders, host agency supports and AHS staff on how to approach this difficult subject in a child-friendly matter that will not cause too much stress to the child. 

Host a yearly orientation event such as a BBQ, feast for all the families to get to know each other and meet new members of the community.  

Include Indigenous foods to promote their importance and significance. 

Have an activity day with stations set up for parents to interact and play with their children.

Outreach /Activity kits

Hand out kits at your Back to School/ Welcoming Event. 

• Fill with items that can be used at home to practice skills. 
• Items can include child-size scissors, paper and cutting activities, pencils, pencil crayons, sharpener, potty training charts (if needed) stickers, glue sticks, play dough ingredients, recipe and cutters, other items that help refine fine motor skills, books about emotions, routines, seasons. 
• A copy of AHS Principles & Guidelines, the daily schedule and routine, handbook, host agency programs. 
• Infant/ Toddler ideas: paint smock, infant/ toddler finger paints, large crayons for easy grasping, bath time play toys, large non-toxic stamp pad, finger puppets, cultural board book and puzzle. Age development songs and sensory ideas to accompany.
• A dictionary using the dialect and language your center will have as the focus.
• Newsletters or links to newsletters from Indigenous Nations in your local territory!
• Calendar showing special events and closure dates for the year!
• Flash cards or list of indigenous Language words children will be learning with pronunciations. 
• Healthy snack recipe and ingredients, FNHA’s Healthy Foods for First Nations guidelines, and AHS food Indigenous Foods poster

Innovative Ideas: Conayt AHS 

Conayt sent home a recipe for a healthy snack, blueberry clusters–a delicious, easy and  sweet treat.

1-pint fresh blueberries
1 cup vanilla Greek yogurt

Wash and dry blueberries. In a bowl, combine blueberries, and Greek yogurt, then dollop onto a parchment lined plate and place into the freezer until the clusters have set. 

Optional : sprinkle granola, oatmeal or coconut flakes on top.

Conayt AHS in Merritt invited Pow Wow dancer/ Community Member Kim Harry in to teach children and staff some Pow Wow Steps.