建立社区是我们麦纳特大道以北学校的持续优先事项。这始于九月由特里福克斯学校主办的一次家庭晚餐，邀请来自奥.斯.盖格尔学校、法尔肯里奇学校、格兰特.麦克尤恩学校和纳尔逊.曼德拉高中的我们所有土著家庭。

我们第一次社区土著家庭盛宴的尘埃还没有落定，几位家长就问道：“我们什么时候再来一次？”还表示，“我们应该有个圆舞会！”这激发了我们最近的社区活动。

我们的旅程以互惠、尊重和荣耀的精神进行了对话。今年二月，格兰特.麦克尤恩学校欢迎我们的家庭与我们各自的教职工、长者和利益相关方一起举办圆舞会，庆祝新的一年和新的开始。我们共同获得了很多：新的理解、庆祝个体差异、社区的力量、新的关系、开放的对话、新的信心以及传播笑容的喜悦。

我们社区的声音：
 
“这样的活动赋予社区分享他们的文化的力量，我们只是创造了这个机会。”
教师

“去参加圆舞会太棒了，还有食物！我了解到了我的文化。”
四年级

“在盛宴上，我真的很喜欢，这是我和文化的联系。我在课堂上学到了鹿之歌。在盛宴上我听到了它，这是我和土著人民的联系。”
四年级

“参加盛宴、圆舞会并加入文化俱乐部帮助我学到人生的经验，并让我对我的文化和学校有更多的联系感。”
六年级

“这样的活动非常重要，我们的孩子需要学习我们的方式。”
克里族长者

“看到我们课堂上通常很保守的学生在圆舞会上变得活跃起来，这是最好的礼物。”
教师

“今晚最大的影响将在下一次我们的教职员工与家庭会面时体现，无论是面对面还是电话沟通，对话将会有所不同。这是一份礼物。”
学习主管

我们向社区开放庆祝土著文化，我们在东北的学校中通过教学和学习获得新的认识，并开始了新的对话，为真相和和解铺平了道路。我们的学校和社区成员一起前行，开启了新的方向。

Building community is an ongoing priority in our north of McKnight Boulevard schools. This began with a family dinner in September hosted by Terry Fox School, for all our Aboriginal families from O.S. Geiger School, Falconridge School, Grant MacEwan School and Nelson Mandela High School respectively.

The dust hadn’t settled from our first Community Aboriginal Family Feast on Sept. 20th, 2016 and several parents asked, “When are we going to do this again?” and stated, “We should have a Round Dance!” That sparked our most current community event.

Our journey embraced conversations in the spirit of reciprocity, honour and respect. In February, Grant MacEwan School welcomed our families to join our respective staff members, elders and stakeholders to a round dance in celebration of a new year and new beginnings. Collectively we have gained much; new understandings, celebrated individuality, strength in community, new relationships, open conversations, newfound confidence, and reveled spreading smiles.  

The voice of our community:
 
“Events like these give power to the community to share their culture, we have just created the opportunity.”
Teacher

“It was awesome to go to the round dance and there was food! I learned about my culture.”
Grade 4
 
“At the feast, I really liked it, it is my connection to my culture.  I have been learning about The Deer Song in class. I heard it at the feast and it is a connection to indigenous people.”
Grade 4

“Going to The Feast, Round Dance and being a part of Cultural Club has helped me learn life lessons and makes me feel more connected to my culture and my school.”
Grade 6

“Events like these are so important, our children need to learn our ways.”
Cree Elder

“Seeing our students that are normally be so reserved in class become so animated at the Round Dance was the greatest gift.”
Teacher

“The greatest impact of tonight will be the next time our staff meet with our families, in person or by phone, the conversation will start differently. This is a gift.”
Learning Leader

Opening our doors to celebrating Indigenous culture in our community, coming to new understandings in both teaching and learning in our North East schools and starting new conversations that pave the way forward have been our reward. Walking together, our schools and our community members are setting new directions toward Truth and Reconciliation.