Cultures were shared at Dakota Tipi First Nation today, as the community hosted Aboriginal Awareness Day with Portage la Prairie School Division's Grade 6 students. Students from each school gathered outside the former Dakota Tipi School, where they took in presentations on drumming, dancing, and traditions. It's the second time the initiative's taken place at the nation, something exciting to Dakota Tipi's Terry Pashe. He describes the event as important, noting it can help change youth attitudes, with the ultimate goal of reducing racism.

"What we do is try to bring other groups in so they can get to know us, share with us, get our children to share their culture with them. Our customs and ways focus on sharing, so that's what we do."

Portage la Prairie School Division Aboriginal Academic Achievement Coordinator Jill Fast helped create the annual event, and says it's an important initiative for the division.

"Promoting aboriginal culture in a positive way benefits all students. Aboriginal students can feel proud of their culture, non-aboriginal students get to learn about aboriginal culture, so it really does benefit all students."

Fast notes they have no shortage of partnerships to help make the day a success, as they have many communities involved.

"Dakota Tipi Health Centre, we work with them, We have Dakota Tipi hosting. We also have dancers from Long Plain First Nation, and the Long Plain school liaison helps with this too, so it's both communities and the Portage school division."

She also thanks Portage Co-op for providing lunch, and Youth For Christ for supplying the barbecue.