Kenora Catholic celebrates Rock Your Mocs and Louis Riel Day

Kenora Catholic celebrates Rock Your Mocs and Louis Riel Day
Posted on 11/15/2019
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People in costume

This piece was written by Grade 12 student Lauren Robertson as part of the Student Journalism Program at St. Thomas Aquinas.

Aboriginal culture was celebrated and recognized at St. Thomas Aquinas High School last Friday during Rock Your Mocs and Louis Riel Day. In the foyer, the school held different events including jingle dress dancing, traditional drumming and handing out bannock.

The bannock was made by Grade 7 students and guidance teacher, Katie Jackson. Jackson stated what she thinks is important about Rock Your Mocs Day.

"I think it's very important to always celebrate the FNMI [First Nations, Metis, Inuit] culture and I think that we do a great job of that on a daily basis in our school, but sometimes it's nice to just have a special day dedicated to it."

Along with the bannock, students were encouraged to wear their moccasins or mukluks to school as well as the traditional Metis sash. There were also drummers and jingle dress dancers who were invited to the school to perform for everyone.

MoccasinsShelly Tom, is the FNMI Education Coordinator at Kenora Catholic and she explained the meaning of Rock Your Mocs Day.

"We wear the moccasins to celebrate all cultures and it represents being together. It started in the United States and they've sent it off hoping that all nations will wear their moccasins to celebrate all cultures together," she said.

Naomi Bruneau, a Grade 11 student, shared why she enjoys Rock Your Mocs.

"I really like the activities that we do around the school and all the festivities that we have going on. I feel that it's important for us to celebrate because this is our past, it's where we came from. It's important heritage that students should learn."

Students, staff, and visitors that were at the school had a fun time getting to celebrate the different cultures. Elder Terry Skead, one of the drummers, shared what he enjoyed about the event.

"Coming here to sing for the jingle dress dancers also for the school and celebrating for everybody," he said. "Not just for the dancers but for everybody."

Student wearing a Sash

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