Yesterday was a celebration of Aboriginal Awareness for Portage la Prairie School Division students. Aboriginal Academic Achievement Facilitator Jill Fast says 180 students came out.

"We're having the Portage School Divis

Jill Fast is second from rightion Third Annual Aboriginal Awareness day at Dakota Tipi for grade 6 students. All the grade sixes in the division come here and they have guest speaker presentations in the morning and barbecue lunch, and pow-wow demonstration in the afternoon."

She explains some drum groups were also present, including Hoka Times, North Wolf Ojibway, and Young Guns. Young Guns is the youth from Yellowquill and École Arthur Meighen School. Long Plain School students also came out with the students from the Portage Division.

Fast says the grade 6 classes came out seeing as their social studies curriculum fits the subject, and it's also a transition year for some schools. Some Fort La Reine kids will be going to Yellowquill, and from North Memorial to La Verendrye. This allows them to see kids from the school with whom they'll be merging. She adds it's like a celebration that they're done grade 6 and going to junior high.

Dakota Tipi elder and dancer Terry Pashe says the aboriginal students in the division wanted to be inclusive with their friends to share their culture and what they do, such as hobbies and summer activities. He adds they're so pleased to have all the students come and enjoy the time of aboriginal awareness. Pashe says the dancers are all champion dancers among the best you'll find in native country in a competitive circle and traditional circle.

Division Superintendent Todd Cuddington