On February 20 and 21, senior students from Elkford Secondary, Sparwood Secondary, Fernie Secondary, and Jaffray School came together for an unforgettable Indigenous learning journey to Lethbridge, Alberta. It was so much more than just a field trip. 

On the way, we stopped in the  Piikani Nation, where students were welcomed with fresh fry bread made especially for them.  

In Lethbridge, students visited the Galt Museum where they reconnected with Elder Blanche, someone they have built a relationship with and learned from over the years.  Blackfoot Elder Blanche, promotes respect and connects the past to the present in meaningful, tangible ways. Students were immersed in the history, traditions, identity, and worldview of the Blackfoot people - not from a textbook, but through her lived knowledge and story.

The experience continued at the Lethbridge International Pow-Wow. Our students arrived early, not as spectators, but as helpers. They supported Elders, assisted vendors with setting up their handmade crafts, and engaged in meaningful conversations with dancers and community members. They listened. They learned. They gave back.

 Saturday morning was about service and relationship. Saturday afternoon was about celebration! The powerful dancing, breathtaking regalia, the steady heartbeat of the drum, and the pride of culture alive and thriving. Students witnessed strength, resilience, and joy woven together in every grand entry.

This trip strengthened connections between schools. It deepened understanding of Indigenous history and culture. It created space for youth to step into respect, humility, and reciprocity. It honored the past while empowering the next generation to carry knowledge forward.

 Experiences like this matter. They build bridges. They grow empathy. They remind us that reconciliation is not a word, it is action, relationship, and shared learning.

 We are so proud of our students for the way they showed up. They had open minds, helping hands, and full hearts.