Day 5, Friday, July 15: Brocket, Alberta

I think six girls are in here? That's big!

Katie's tipi for last night and tonight.

Talked with Katie last night as they had some free time. Sounded like things were going smoothly if not a little more "boring" at First Nation (my sense was that things have slowed down a bit).


Looks like the Buffalo Jump is the big thing today. It is so ingenious and tragic at the same time. I found a great tour on the web - link posted below.


UPDATE - the note from Lyly (came later due to lack of wi-fi!)

Today we arrived at the Tipi Camp. There is a tipi village set in the middle of an open field surrounded by rolling hills as far as you can see. It is so peaceful and beautiful. The students were given free time to just run around and play. Many enjoyed playing Frisbee, soccer, and "Ninja". I think they quite enjoyed the freedom. 

After lunch, we were split into two groups. One group went to learn how to put up a tipi. Brian, one of the Blackfoot instructors, is an expert on tipi building. He instructed 3-4 students at a time thru each process until the tipi was fully constructed. It was awesome to see the finished product. Fun Fact: Do you know why different parts of a tipi are referred to by body parts? ie: ribs, ears, skeleton, etc. The Blackfoot refer to human parts because they feel a tipi is a member of their family. The tipi shelters and protects them, so they show it respect by referring to it by human body parts. 

The second group went to art class. Katie, the instructor, taught students about how First Nations People record things that have happened throughout one year on a "Winter Account". This is a story painted in a spiral on the back of a buffalo hide. Students were then given paper and pencils to create a "Winter Account" of their People to People experience thus far. Some students are very creative and have artistic skills. 

After rotating both groups thru the stations, our delegation sat down to listen to an Elder of the tribe speak. It was a lady. She told Blackfoot stories and legends like "Napi,the Trickster". Everyone enjoyed her stories and asked many questions about the First Nations people. 

Students really got into asking questions about owls. Apparently seeing an owl is considered bad luck. If an owl moves into your area, it is a sign of bad things to come. The students had a great time asking the Elder all kinds of questions about good vs bad omens. The main thing we learned is that owls of every color are a sign of bad luck to come but white owls are a sign of good things to come. 

Finally evening arrived and everyone was excited to sleep in the tipis. The wind was blowing extremely hard through the hills when we went to bed. It was a little scary with the wind howling, canvases flapping, and the ropes creaking on the poles. Regardless, was a great first day at Tipi Camp!

People to People Itinerary
Today you will experience a Blackfoot Sweat Lodge ceremony. The sweat lodge, or purification ceremony, is a mild ceremonial sauna. It is a rare privilege to partake in this exclusive ritual.

You will have the opportunity to hear an elder recite old stories from the prewritten era of the Blackfoot history.

Study the history of the local First Nations at the UNESCO World Heritage Site: Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump. Cool narrated tour with 360 video here.

Afterwards, head back to your camp to enjoy drumming and dancing with friends from the Piikani Nation.

Tonight you will experience a traditional First Nation's meal dining on buffalo.

And they are still under mosquito watch!

This is the actual museum. They built it into the side of the cliffs.

Day 4, Thursday, July 14: Brocket, Alberta

Calgary's Olympic Park. Katie's in the back behind the tall boys on the left!

Katie called last night. She's feeling a little homesick and says a few of the other kids are feeling it too. She loved the museum and said the dinosaurs were amazing.

She is really looking forward to getting to the First Nation today - but apparently the Sweat Lodge part is not happening because the Blackfoot are seeing too many owls and that's not a good thing relative to the Sweat Lodge. I hope they tell the kids more about what the owls mean. It's making Katie and I laugh because we just finished watching the entire Twin Peaks series and in that, if you recall, one of the messages was "the owls are not what they seem!"


Here's the note from Lyly: 

Today was another fun-packed day. This morning we left Pope Lease Pines for the Tyrell Dinosaur Museum in Drumheller. The students were given lots of time to wander the museum and take in all the sights. If you have never experienced this museum, the sheer size of the dinosaur skeletons is incredible. It is something worth seeing.

We asked the students to take note of several dinosaur facts as they wandered because later they would have to recite some of the things they had learned. It was awesome to see each student come up with a different fact and state it in front of the entire delegation. You truly have amazing kids! Then Chelsea gave students the option to go for a walk thru the surrounding Badlands or go to the gift shop. Many chose to go on the walk and said that it was really fun.

We spent the afternoon at Calgary Olympic Park. Delegates were split into six groups to go on a scavenger hunt. They were given clues and had to work as a team to find answers to the riddles. I enjoyed seeing students co-operating together as they scurried around the park. We were also able to take some great pictures in one of the original Calgary Olympic bobsleds. You'll love them.

We are headed to the Tipi Camp tomorrow. Can't wait to see what we learn about the Blackfoot Nation.

These are the First Nation peoples they will meet.

People to People Itinerary

1. Today is your first day at the Painted Reflections Tipi camp. Over the next two days, you will study and experience the First Nations culture in the Porcupine Hills south of Calgary.
2. Through discussions and interactions with Blackfoot people, gain insights into their spiritual beliefs, customs and culture.
3. You'll have the unique opportunity to hear First Nations Piikani legends told by Elders.
4. While here, you will begin your Earth Steward Service Project as you learn what it takes to become an environmental ambassador. Through workshops and hands-on experiences, you will learn innovative ways of reducing your overall waste in Canada and your own community.
5. Stay warm and dry at night under the canopy of your tipi.

[And you have to love this!] Be prepared for the area's mosquitoes by wearing long pants, a long sleeve shirt, both light colored and mosquito repellent, with DEET as the main ingredient. Mosquitoes are most active in the late afternoon to dusk. However, preventative measures should be taken all day.

Cool Find: I happened to come across a blog from the 2010 People to People Canada trip. If you want to see what's coming (or what happened last year), check it out!

The tipi and a Blackfoot Indian.

Day 3, Wednesday, July 13: Calgary, Alberta

The kids on the train at the mine.

It sounds like Tuesday was a BIG day with lots of cool activities. Today looks like another big day as well. I got a text from Katie in the early evening that said, "Right this minute we are at Wal-Mart and all the kids are sitting on the bus watching TRON and most of the leaders are inside buying their 'necessary essentials'!" That cracked me up. I told her Lyly was probably buying a new camera!


Here's the day's note from Lyly:  

We began day 2 by leaving Calgary for the "Pope Lease Pines" campsite. Upon arrival, the students were assigned a miner cabin for the duration of our stay. The cabins are small and compact but very cute. It's easy to imagine what they must have been like in the 1920's with a little pot belly stove, a mini table, 2 chairs, and a bed. Life was much more simple back then. :)

After lunch, we went for a little hike in Horse Shoe Canyon. Chelsea gave us a mini geological lesson as we walked and I was constantly surprised by how much the students already knew. Then it was off to the Hudderite Colony. The Hudderites originally came from Austria and fled to Canada after being religiously persecuted. Hudderites are unique because they live as a community. 

Although each family unit has their own apartment, everyone in the colony eats three meals a day together, share their finances, and attend church together every day. Lydia, one of the Hudderite women, was our guide. It was very interesting to get a tour through the meeting place, the kitchens, and one home. After the tour our students were given a chance to ask questions about the community. I was very proud of the thoughtful questions students asked.

We spent our evening at the East Cooley School. It was built in the 1920's and still has most of the original furniture and nick knacks. Our delegates were given the opportunity to experience what it was truly like to be a student in 1936.

Upon entering the school we were met by Miss Morrison. After a stern lecture on the importance of being on time, Miss Morrison marched our students into the classroom. On each desk was a name tag and a family history for each child that attended school in 1936. Our students took on these identities for the duration of class. If any student misbehaved, Miss Morrison was very quick to mete out punishment.

I was punished for coming to class late and was given the strap out in the hallway. When class was over, many students came up to ask if I had truly been whipped. That's when I told them to be thankful they didn't attend school in the 1930's. :) Everyone said they enjoyed attending class and they especially liked seeing me get punished.

On a happy note, I was able to buy a new digital camera at Wal-Mart tonight. Yeah! Elizabeth, another teacher, took some photos on her iPhone. I am forwarding them to you so you can at least see something.

The People to People Itinerary

Looks like some pretty cool dinos! Albertosaurus!

1. Explore the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology - the largest dinosaur museum in the world and a world-class facility dedicated to the study of dinosaurs.
2. After learning about Canada's rich history of prehistoric animals, return to Calgary and its premier recreational attraction: the Canada Olympic Park! In 1988 Calgary hosted the XV Olympic Winter Games. Through a series of highly interactive games and activities, you will come to know what it takes to be a true Olympic champion.
3. After dinner in downtown Calgary, it's back to the University of Calgary where you stay for the night.

The museum.

Cool license plate I found online from 1988!