Niji Mahkwa Dreamers

Students read a legend, the retelling of a Nanabosho story, or a story from a traditional storyteller and traditional stories of Nanabosho were retold in every classroom by a Mystery Reader, who students had to guess which teacher was the mystery reader.

This year, a live Nanabosho oral story production of How the Turtle Got Its Shell was retold by the Grade 1 and 2 students. Teachers helped students make puppets for their own to retell other Nanabosho stories.

The focus of Niji Mahkwa Dreamers week is to read, celebrate traditional oral storytelling, pass on traditional teachings and encourage dreams and hopes for the student’s future.

“Every student who walks the halls has a bright future ahead of them, led through lessons by our teachers and oral stories that generations have told by our ancestors,” said Marsha Missyabit, a principal at Niji Mahkwa School.

At the beginning of the week, students received land-based materials to make dreamcatchers formed out of red willow collected from the Interlake of Manitoba.

Students kept track of their reading by adding a feather to their classroom dreamcatcher.

“The week ended with an Indigenous-based game of bingo that reviewed topics of teachings, gifts from Creator, language, animals and traditional dance regalia,” continued Marsha Missyabit.

Niji Mahkwa students enjoyed oral storytelling, looking to their future dreams, reading traditional stories, and celebrating spirit themes.