Conference lets teachers share knowledge with one another

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People from across the province involved in educating First Nations and Metis children will get a chance to get together and share their experiences, during the annual Awasis conference. This year's conference will take place at the Saskatoon Inn in Saskatoon from April 2 to 4.

The theme of the conference is Kakiskimitotan-Let us learn from one another-and those in attendance get plenty of opportunities to do so. The conference includes three days of presentations by people who share their knowledge in the areas of wellness, spirituality, culture and education, the four strands of the conference program.

Among this year's many presenters are noted author Maria Campbell, who will speak about storytelling and healing, and will also team up with Metis fiddle master John Arcand for the presentation Stories of the Road Allowance People: The Storytelling and Fiddle Playing of the Metis.

Drew Hayden Taylor will also be taking part in the conference, presenting his National Film Board documentary on Native humor, Redskins, Tricksters and Puppy Stew, and then talking about Native humor.

World-renowned hoop dancer Delvin Kennedy will be another of the presenters, performing the hoop dance, and teaching participants how to make hoops, and how to do some of the patterns used in the dance. He will also be giving people tips on how to start a dance troupe within their schools.

Shaun Soonias, from the Saskatchewan Children's Advocate Office, will also take part in the conference, talking about the rights of youth, the role of the Children's Advocate Office, and how schools and teachers can help students get access to advocacy services offered by the office.

Other topics to be covered include the role of Elders, anger management, integrating Aboriginal content into teaching, and Cree writing systems.

The annual conference is coordinated by Awasis, a special subject council of the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation that works to improve the education offered to First Nations and Metis people.

For more information about the conference, call 343-5999.