The Summer Solstice & National Indigenous History Month: A Time of Gathering, Learning, Honoring, & Celebrating

During National Indigenous History Month in June, it is a time to gather and honor the identity, history, traditions, and diversity of Indigenous People. On June 21st, we celebrate the summer solstice and honor National Indigenous People's Day and keep the learning going all throughout the month. Students across the school board will be participating in a variety of learning opportunities including thinking about the importance of the summer solstice, learning about this month's strawberry moon, connecting with art, cooking, participating in games such as archery, celebrating together, and learning more about diverse Indigenous cultures and perspectives!

Acknowledgement of Ancestral Lands

The oral history of Inuit is filled with many folktales. In this traditional story, a young owl catches a lemming to eat. Inuit stories are often instructive and, with this tale, children quickly learn the value of being clever and humble, and why pride and arrogance are to be avoided.

Reflection Questions:

• What lessons does the lemming learn?

Can you think of any other morality tales you may know?  Consider stories such as Aesop’s Fables, the Monkey King, the Gingerbread Man, Anansi the Spider, the Three Billy Goats Gruff or the Three Little Pigs.

• How is The Owl and the Lemming similar to the story you know?  How is it different?

• Discuss the ways the lemming tried to outwit the owl.

• Read another story and compare/contrast.