FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Passing down Aboriginal knowledge through AFCY’s outreach programs
TORONTO, ON (Feb. 16, 2011) – Arts for Children and Youth (AFCY) has organized an Aboriginal program led by Coast Tsimshian First Nations, Artist/Educator, Shannon Thunderbird.
Thirty-three grade four and grade five students at Bala Avenue Community School will have a hands-on experience sharing and celebrating Aboriginal culture through the oral narrative, building a character education Medicine Wheel, drumming, vocals, and writing original music.
This will be the first time Shannon Thunderbird will be collaborating with AFCY. “The oral narrative is at the heart of the cultural grounding of my people, and as a cultural guardian, I am very pleased to be able to share what I know with the Bala students,” says Thunderbird.
The program is five days long and will take place between February 22 and March 2, this year. Community Sharing is AFCY’s way of sharing what students learn in our programs with their families and the entire community around them. This learning experience will culminate in a Community Sharing.
“We have just purchased some Aboriginal drums so that we can offer more First Nation’s drumming at AFCY,” says Cathy Clark, AFCY’s school program coordinator. “ Students benefit so much from learning how to work together, leave behind their egos, collaborate and cooperate with each other.”
“Aboriginal knowledge is based on the teachings of the Medicine Wheel and includes the ideas of respecting every individual, patient understanding, courage, leadership and teamwork,” says Thunderbird. During our 5 full-day workshops, the students will assist Thunderbird in a daily opening “Sweetgrass”ceremony.
The youth at Bala Ave. Community School, located in the Weston-Mt. Dennis Neighbourhood will benefit from Thunderbird’s wealth of knowledge. The emotional impact of her teachings comes from her storytelling abilities, and her deep involvement with First Nation’s issues.
AFCY relies on both individual and corporate and donors to raise the funds and awareness necessary to continue providing the immediate help and hope that Toronto’s children and youth need and deserve, especially in the priority neighborhoods.
AFCY is grateful to Great West Life, London Life and Canada Life for their generosity and support. Great West Life, London Life and Canada Life have been AFCY’s supporters for a number of years.
About AFCY:
AFCY is a registered not-for-profit organization. We ally with high priority communities and empower marginalized children and youth by engaging them in hands-on, community and school-based arts education programs that respect existing cultural and community activity, resulting in participatory action and social awareness. To learn more about us, please visit www.afcy.ca. You can email us at info@afcy.ca or call us at 416-929-9314.
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Shehreen Ladha
Marketing and PR Coordinator
401 Richmond St. West, Suite 230
Toronto, ON M5V 3A8
416 929 9314 x 114
shehreen@afcy.ca
