Iinii Insights

Tobacco Teachings at NLC 

Our Elders have shared teachings about traditional tobacco, one of the four sacred medicines used by many Indigenous Peoples. Elders teach that tobacco was the first plant given to the two-leggeds and is a gift of respect, reciprocity, gratitude, and connection. 

Traditional tobacco is often offered to the land or water as a way of giving thanks, showing respect, and acknowledging our relationship with the natural world. It is also presented when seeking guidance, knowledge, teachings, or support from an Elder or Knowledge Keeper. While protocols vary among Nations, traditional tobacco holds an important place in Indigenous cultures and traditions. 

As part of our commitment to sharing Indigenous ways of knowing, we invite families to listen to NLC students sharing tobacco teachings that have been gifted to our school community: Listen to NLC Students Sharing Their Tobacco Teachings. 🌿 

At NLC this Week

Nutrition Plan 

Learning from the Land: Áápiikayi (Skunk) 

This week in Phys Ed and Wellness, students have been learning about the skunk, known as áápiikayi in Blackfoot. We explored how skunks become much more active as they search heavily for food to build fat reserves and look for safe, warm places to spend the winter. To bring our learning to life, students played áápiikayi Tag, chasing and hiding in dens just like skunks. 

This learning connects to our school’s TRC goal: 

We commit to integrating Indigenous languages into land-based learning opportunities, recognizing the land as a teacher and language as a living expression of culture, identity, and relationship. Through regular experiences on the land, students and staff will engage with Indigenous languages in ways that respect the traditional territory and the diverse Indigenous communities of Niitsitapi Learning Centre. 

Through movement, play, and learning Blackfoot vocabulary, students are building connections between language, culture, and the natural world around them. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn from the land and the teachings it offers! 

Healthy Smiles at NLC 

Earlier this week, students in Kindergarten through Grade 2 brought home consent forms for the Community Oral Health Program. With parent/guardian consent, students can receive a visual dental screening and fluoride varnish applications to help support healthy teeth and prevent tooth decay. Initial fluoride varnish applications are scheduled for October 28 and 29. 

Please review and return the consent forms if you would like your child to participate. Consent remains valid for future years that the program is offered at NLC, unless a parent or guardian chooses to update information or withdraw consent. As this is a multi-year consent, families whose child previously attended NLC in Kindergarten or Grade 1 and already have a signed consent on file may not receive a new consent form this year. If your child already has consent on file and you no longer wish for them to participate in the program, please contact the school office to let us know. 

We are grateful for the opportunity to support healthy smiles and healthy learners at NLC 

TELUS Spark Indigenous Science Night: Stones, Stories & Stars 

Families are invited to attend TELUS Spark's Indigenous Science Night: Stones, Stories & Stars on Friday, October 16, from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. This special event brings together Indigenous astronomy, storytelling, planetarium experiences, telescope viewing, and cultural knowledge shared by Elders, Knowledge Keepers, Indigenous scientists, and astronomers.  

Participants can explore hands-on activities for all ages, including star mapping, Indigenous sky stories, creative children's activities, cultural teachings, and opportunities to connect Indigenous knowledge with the land and the cosmos. The evening also features a Moonlight Market showcasing Indigenous artists and businesses.  

Admission is free for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit attendees (no ID required). General admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children. All ages are welcome.  

For more information and tickets, visit TELUS Spark Indigenous Science Night. 

Seasonal Celebration of Learning - October 29 

At NLC, we gather seasonally for a Celebration of Learning, a whole-school assembly that honours and celebrates the learning taking place across our school community. Through songs, photographs, student work, and teachings, students have an opportunity to share their learning journey and celebrate the growth and accomplishments of all learners. 

Our Fall Celebration of Learning will be led by our Grade 1 and Grade 2 students and teachers, who will showcase some of the learning, experiences, and teachings they have explored this season. They will also share teachings with the broader school community. While the presentation is led by our Grade 1 and 2 classes, it is a celebration of the learning and growth of all NLC students as we come together as one learning community. 

Has Your Child Lost Something? It May Be in Our School Lost & Found! 

Our Lost & Found is overflowing with forgotten jackets, hoodies, water bottles, lunch containers, and other belongings. Since the start of September, more than 100 items have been left behind on the playground, in the lunchroom, and in the hallways.  
 
Several items are also left behind in classrooms and remain unclaimed despite staff members' efforts to help their students identify and collect them. 

We encourage students and families to stop by the Lost & Found in the main hallway near the office over the next few weeks. 

A few helpful reminders: 

• Label everything. Items with a student's first and last initial(s) can often be returned the same day. No label or marker? No problem! Even a piece of masking tape inside a jacket with your child's name written on it can make a big difference. 
• Toys and valuables should remain safely tucked inside backpacks throughout the school day. This helps prevent items from being lost or damaged and avoids an unexpected visit to our Toy Jail when toys become a distraction to learning. 
• Due to the volume of items, office and teaching staff are unable to search for specific belongings requested through phone calls or emails. 

Important: Our Lost & Found space can only hold so many items! When the collection becomes too large, unclaimed items are donated to make room for new arrivals. We encourage students to check the Lost & Found regularly, and families are welcome to stop by the school to take a look as well. Many items are reunited with their owners after just a few minutes of browsing. 

Thank you for helping lost belongings find their way home. 

Elbow River Healing Lodge Wellness Clinic 

We are pleased to share that the NLC Wellness Clinic is now open and will continue to operate every Wednesday during regular school hours. 

In partnership with Primary Care Alberta and Elbow River Healing Lodge (ERHL), the clinic brings a physician into our school to support the health and well-being of NLC students, their siblings, parents, and extended family members. The clinic provides culturally responsive primary healthcare and helps improve access to health services for families who may not currently have a family doctor. 

This clinic is about more than providing medical care. It creates a welcoming space where Indigenous students and families can access culturally responsive healthcare that honours and celebrates their identities. When children feel safe, valued, and understood, it supports both their overall well-being and their ability to learn and thrive at school. 

Need a Family Physician? 
Families who do not have a family physician are encouraged to access the Wellness Clinic. Services include health promotion, prevention, screening, and early intervention supports for Indigenous children and families. 

Accessing a Pediatrician 
If your child is waiting to see a pediatrician, ask your family doctor for a referral to the ERHL pediatrician.  

New and existing patients can book appointments or learn more about the Wellness Clinic and pediatric referrals by contacting ERHL at 403-955-6600. 

Interested in Volunteering at NLC? 

We are grateful for the support of families and community members who help make Niitsitapi Learning Centre a strong, welcoming, and vibrant place to learn. 

Anyone wishing to volunteer at the school must complete the Annual Volunteer Registration Form each school year.  

For more information about volunteering, please contact the school. Thank you for sharing your time, talents, and knowledge with our students and school community!