Page 49 - Georgina Island

Elementary: K–Grade 5
Waabgon Gamig First Nation
School. Waabgon means “to
blossom” and Gamig means
“house” in Anishinaabemowin.

Our children in Kindergarten to Grade 5 attend Waabgon Gamig Smudging is a word that
describes the practice of
First Nation School on Georgina Island. They arrive on the
cleansing with medicines.
Georgina Island school bus in time for the breakfast program.
Smudge is typically made up of
The whole school gathers in the multi-purpose room where they dried sage, cedar, tobacco, or
begin their day, often in a sharing circle or with smudging. Later, sweetgrass, or a combination of
these. At the school, we most
they gather in the multi-purpose room for lunch.
often use sage. A small
bit of dried sage is burned
Our school has two classrooms, one for Grades K–2 and the
in a large shell and taken
other for Grades 3–5. Learning in a small class with children
to each person around the
from other grades who are often relatives is very different circle. Each person usually
from most schools. There is one teacher and one Educational gathers some smoke with their
hands and brushes the smoke
Assistant in each class, so our students receive a lot of individual
over their eyes, ears, mouth,
attention. Our school also has a room for Anishinaabemowin
and heart. This helps us to see
language instruction, where our students take daily classes with good things, hear good things,
an Anishinaabemowin instructor. Teachers are hired through a speak good things, and come
from a good heart during
special agreement with the York Region District School Board.
the day.
Waabgon Gamig is a community-organized school, so many
community members are involved in student learning. Our A morning sharing circle
students take part in cultural and land-based programming. It provides time for each of our
students to begin the day by
is common to see the entire school learning to catch and clean
sharing something interesting
fish with an Elder, attending Veterans Day ceremonies at the or important to them in the
cenotaph, tracking on the Nanabush Trails, receiving safety moment. Sometimes a student
lessons from the Georgina Island police, joining in on a water may have a lot to share, and
other times very little.
walk, and leading activities that care for the environment, such
as working to restore Gerties Creek. In addition, we partner with
Morning Glory Public School on the mainland to run various
activities and programs. When our students complete Grade 5 at
the island school, there is a community graduation ceremony.

Georgina Island First Nation 47

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