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COUNSELLOR'S BLOG FOR STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND CAREGIVERS



NISKI PÎSIM  ᓂᐢᑭᐲᓯᒼ  (MARCH 2023) 

Let's talk about sleep...

Does the scene on the left look familiar? 

We all felt the time change in March... but for many kids, that's not the only
time they struggle to go to bed at night and wake up feeling refreshed in the
morning.

Sleep challenges in children are common and it is important to address them.

Children and youth who don't get enough sleep have a harder time focusing in
school. They are sometimes tired and sometimes hyperactive. Both those things
make it hard to take in information. 

Not getting enough sleep also makes it harder for us to deal with our feelings
and emotions. We have less patience for others and lash out at them more easily.
This is true for adults, too, by the way.


HOW MUCH SLEEP IS ENOUGH?

For Elementary School children, an average of 10 hours is recommended. For
Junior High and High School youth, an average of 9 hours are healthy. 

Of course, each child is different and some children may need a little more or a
little less.

If you feel that your child is not getting enough sleep, try to move their
bedtime to an earlier time gradually. If they go to bed at 10pm, try putting
them to bed at 9:45 on day 1, at 9:30 on day 3, at 9:15 on day 5 and by the end
of the week, try 9pm.


WAYS TO HELP THEM SLEEP BETTER...

There are many things you can do to make it easier for your child to fall asleep
and have a good sleep at night.

Take time to wind down before bed with quiet activities like reading, colouring,
building a puzzle or having a snuggle.

This is a great time for you to connect with your child, hear about their day
and deal with any worries that might be on their mind.

Audiobooks can be a great alterative to watching shows. There are podcasts, apps
and YouTube channels where you can find bedtime stories or guided meditations to
listen to (don't watch the screen, just listen).Calming sounds like soft music,
rain or ocean waves can also help your child drift off to sleep. 


MIKISÎW PÎSIM   (FEBRUARY 2023)


CONNECTION/SAKIHITOWIN

A Story about Interoception and Feeling Our Feelings. 

Listening to My Body by Gabbi Garcia



For connecting with others we find things we have in common, we practice
learning from one another and trying out new things that the other person
enjoys. We notice their body language and facial expressions and listen to their
words. We can practice this by modeling listening skills, and reflecting back
what we heard our youth say. Teaching them to reflect back what others say as
well. This is called active listening. 

Have some fun intentionally connecting this month and the months that follow. 

How to Actively Listen



February is a special month. It is the month of connection. Moving towards the
end of the Winter season, and looking forward to Spring. Waiting to see what the
Groundhog will tell us. Valentines Day, Family Day and PINK shirt day all
symbolize LOVE and CONNECTION and KINDNESS. 


Connection is very important for humans. All of us want to be seen and cared
for. As we grow we learn and have to practice both connecting with others as
well as with ourselves. Some ways we help the youth at the school connect with
themselves is to help them learn to identify their feelings and how their
feelings physically feel within our bodies. 



Some ways we do this that can be practiced at home as well are: games about
feelings (feelings memory, feelings cards) making feelings faces and guessing
what the expression means, talking about how we feel in the moment, reading
feelings stories, using a feelings chart. We can expand on this by drawing and
coloring and playing games about how our feelings feel within our bodies. 

 *  Eg. When I feel angry my body gets hot, and my head feels heavy, and my
   heart races fast. 

 * When I feel tired my body feels heavy, and my eyes feel droopy and I might
   yawn. 

 * When I feel excited I have a lot of energy. My heart is fast and my feet and
   hands are wiggly. 

 * When I am worried I feel fidgety. My stomach hurts and my head feels dizzy



TAKWÂKI-PÎSIM  (SEPTEMBER 2022)

On behalf of the MESC counselling team, we welcome everyone back to a new school
year. We will be working to keep this site up-to-date on a monthly basis:
hopefully there will be something that you find useful. We are VERY EXCITED to
see the awasisak ekwa oskayak in the schools soon. As always, if you would like
more information about counselling or mental health, please feel free to contact
your school counsellor. If you're not sure how to contact them, there is a form
here that will help.

please follow @instituteofchildpsychology for lots of great ideas.





MIKISO PISIM (FEBRUARY 2022)

Being Kind - to others AND yourself


In February, we often see symbols of love around us because of Valentine’s Day.
But since 2007, in Canada we also celebrate pink shirt day! This is a way to
show your community your support for bullying to end and kindness towards each
other to be bigger than ever before. There are lots of ways to be kind to one
another, but in schools some of my favorites are: smiling in the hall, offering
to eat lunch beside someone who is alone, asking if someone needs help (even the
teacher!) and holding the door open. These are small gestures but sometimes that
is all you need to make a difference and start a ripple effect that will impact
many. To learn more about Pink Shirt Day, click here!


Being kind to yourself is more than just liking who you are. It is about
listening to your feelings, choosing safe & healthy relationships to surround
yourself with, and following your dreams and goals to be the best you that you
can be. This is all part of practicing self-love. And it starts with the way we
speak to and view ourselves. Sometimes this can be an affirmation such as “I am
strong, I am brave, I am awesome!” or positive self-talk when something doesn’t
go our way such as “that wasn’t the outcome I wanted but I can try again next
time!”. When we speak to ourselves with compassion and understanding, we can
build a beautiful thing. And after all, our relationships with ourselves are the
one that we are guaranteed to have our entire lives so why not put as much
effort into that as we do with other people?!


Challenge yourself - practice love and kindness towards yourself and others this
February! And don’t forget Pink Shirt Day on February 23. 


  KISÊ -PÎSIM  (JANUARY 2022) 

Press play and listen to Mrs. M read a story. This book reminds us to be aware
of our emotions and to be kind to ourselves throughout the tough moments in
life.

Ishi Simple Tips From a Solid Friend.webm


Tansi kakiyaw Ohpikinahawasowak (Parents/Caregivers)


My name is Paula Mennear and I am thrilled to be working as the school
counsellor at Kisipatinahk School. I am honored to support our school families,
their awasisak and oskayak! 

Working with students fills my bucket. I have been in k-8 schools in some
capacity for the past 12 plus years. My last three years were spent promoting
positive mental health and wellness in the classrooms. My family and I love to
travel (road trips are our favorite). We all enjoy spending time outdoors and
connecting with nature. Family time is so precious, so my husband and I try to
squeeze in as many adventures with our two sons as humanly possible (even if the
19 and 16 year old are not always game for it;). I am looking forward to a great
year of connection with students and families.

Ay-hay



Let's take time to reflect on our blessings. When we focus on the positives
rather than the negatives, our outlook on life can change dramatically. This
past year I began writing in a daily gratitude journal and I won't lie, it has
been tough to stick with consistently. However, I've found that when I make the
effort it has definitely helped me refocus, reset and turn my mood around.
Journaling is a stress relieving activity that can help us form better
relationships, lower stress levels and promote positive thinking. Beginning
today and to kick off the New Year, I am making the commitment to write daily in
my journal. I will take a few moments to reflect on my day and count my
blessings. I invite you to join me:)



Gratitude Journal.pdf





Take a peek at the printable gratitude journal. Find the pages that will
motivate you to put gratitude into practice.



OPÂSKÂWEHOPÎSIM - ᐅᐹᐢᑳᐁᐧᐦᐅᐲᓯᒼ  (JUNE) 

Go outside! Unplug the electronics. Discover something new. 


EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED, AND SINCE YOU ARE PART OF EVERYTHING, YOU ARE CONNECTED
TO EVERYTHING. IN AN INCREASINGLY DIVERSE WORLD, IT IS IMPERATIVE FOR OUR KIDS
TO BE EXPOSED TO THE ENRICHMENT AND WHOLESOME EXPERIENCES THAT TAKES PLACE WHEN
LIFE IS EXPLORED AROUND YOU. LEARNING ABOUT THE NATURAL WORLD EXPOSES US TO
MOVING AND STRETCHING, UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS AND WONDER FILLED CONNECTIONS. 


Educating a child to embrace the richness and the beauty of the world we live in
takes a holistic, 360-degree approach. There are endless opportunities for you
and your family to learn and grow together. Here we share simple ideas.


Ms Cary has an Apple tree that she is stretching upwards with in the first
picture. In the second picture she is doing a tree pose which is a good stretch
and helps with balance. Sometimes it is super cool to go outside and see if you
can stand and stretch like the trees around you.



Ms Susan is exploring the spring plantlife and especially the Three flowered
Aven that she found close to the ground. She found that the ground was warm and
out of the wind and breezes. She imagined a connection to the other plants and
insects and the ability to be able to duck out of the way if some large foot was
coming by. Ms Susan found even more small plants and insects by being like this
flower than when she walked way above them. It was really relaxing and so
interesting to learn about the diversity of life next to the ground. 




 ONE WAY TO ENJOY MOVING AND NATURE WITH YOUR FAMILY IS OFFERED BELOW.

 1. Invite your child(ren) to come outside with you.

 2. Suggest that your children move into a circle, or come together in a space,
    with you.

 3. Then go around the circle (starting with you) and listen to the children say
    the name of an animal or plant that they feel close to, or can relate to.

 4. Next you all can play with how the animal or plant moves or is still. You
    and your child(ren) can take turns to  make up a pose that represents the
    animal or plant chosen.

 5. If you and the children are comfortable you can try this with your eyes
    closed. 

 6. While you and your children hold your poses you can share your imagination
    and what it feels like to be something different other than a human animal.

 7. If you have time you can try each other’s poses and share what you notice.
    If you learn something new you can ask the person who started the pose if
    they would like to hear what you experienced.

 8. After the children try each other’s poses, sit down or go for a walk and
    talk about what was visualised, sensed and learned.


Lastly Ms Cary and Ms Susan would like to invite you to take a picture or draw a
picture of yourself or your family members outside and what you have discovered.
Send photos to carynorthwest@maskwacised.ca and susanspyker@maskwacised.ca   We
will be making a gallery of photos and will share it with you, on facebook, and
the fun stuff section of this MESC counselling page. (if you would like to share
with us, but not publicly, please let us know, we would love to see what you do
outside with your child(ren) and will keep it private if that is what you are
comfortable with). We hope that you will share pictures with us, we really
enjoyed our time getting to know a plant we met. 


We can’t wait to see what you discover outside and how you choose to pose with
nature.


OPÂSKÂWEHOPÎSIM - ᐅᐹᐢᑳᐁᐧᐦᐅᐲᓯᒼ  (JUNE) 11


Personal Growth

Hey everyone, it’s Mrs. Fehr from EJSH! Have you ever felt like you wanted to
improve yourself in some way? Maybe you would like to be more outgoing or maybe
you would like to work through a specific fear or maybe you just want to learn
patience. Personal growth happens when you work towards positive personal
development. It requires you to be motivated to change in a positive way and it
may require you to do things that feel uncomfortable. Positive change requires
us to step out of our comfort zone and move forward. Even though it may seem
hard in the moment, it’s so worth it! A great way to help remind you of your
personal growth goals is to make a vision board. You can then hang it on your
wall or add it to your desktop! Check out this link for how to make one!

https://sockbunstudios.com/blogs/news/vision-board-your-2021

What Is Personal Growth and Why You Need ItWhat is personal growth? It means
improving your behavior and habits, and refers to techniques for building
positive habits, behavior, actions and reactions.



OPÂSKÂWEHOPÎSIM - ᐅᐹᐢᑳᐁᐧᐦᐅᐲᓯᒼ  (JUNE) 4 


NAME IT TO TAME IT: FEELINGS OF ANXIETY

This week, we're focusing on feelings of anxiety. Most of us know how this can
feel, but we don't always know why or what to do about it. Hopefully this week's
post helps. Feel free to start with the video to the left for an overview.

In this picture you can see some of the ways feelings of anxiety can affect our
bodies, without us even knowing. Sometimes these feelings come with thoughts
about a situation we are worried about. But sometimes, they just happen on their
own. By noticing our signs, we can get to the root of our feelings and start to
take some steps toward managing our feelings. 

When we get skilled at recognizing our body signs of anxiety, then there's a few
ways to deal with it, starting with calming our bodies. To the left are a few
ways to do this. Other ways to do this are: exercise, spending time in nature,
asking for help, journaling, doing something that your enjoy before or after a
difficult task. 


SOME GOOD RESOURCES FOR LEARNING ABOUT AND DEALING WITH ANXIETY.

https://www.anxietycanada.com/

https://kidshealth.org/

It is really important to remember that EVERYONE experiences some level of
anxiety--it is normal and helps keep us safe. The goal is not to remove anxiety,
but to learn ways to manage it throughout our lives.


PINAWEW PISIM -ᐱᓇᐁᐧᐤ  ᐱᓯᒼ 28 

In Honour of Mother’s Day  WOMAN’S JOURNEY In Honour of MMIW

Iskwewak Pimacihowin

ᐃᐢᑵᐘᐠ ᐱᒪᒋᐦᐅᐏᐣ

It has been shared with us that Natural Law is the ultimate authority upon the
lands and water. The earth is our Mother. We treat her with honour and respect.
Showing respect is a fundamental law of Nehiyaw Itatisowin. It is important to
strive to honour and respect others and all things sacred and ceremonial.


It is with permission and protocol we share this image to represent the sacred
and spiritual power of traditional Nehiyaw teachings. 

We learn from the teachings and wisdom that guided our ancestors.

We seek guidance from Elders.

We are grateful Daniel Roan granted us permission to include this image of late
Emma Roan as a way to honour the Grandmothers.

 

“Guidance and direction from the Grandmothers and Grandfathers has been given to
us. We honour their teachings and carry them into the future” -Daniel Roan


Women are powerful, sacred and spiritual beings. 


Tala Tootoosis is a well known Indigenous speaker. Tala encourages women to find
strength in our bloodlines. 


“Your grandmothers were lodge keepers, camp callers and medicine bundle keepers.
They picked medicines and spoke to and sang for the plants to show them what
medicines they offer. In turn, you pass it off to your grandchild.”

There is a strength that runs deep inside women. 

Young girls and Women  are worthy of dignity, respect and honour. 



WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER 



Women have the ability to give life and nurture life. Women are blessed with
these abilities. Our blessings are powerful. Women should be treated with love
and respect.   Lucy Kammer

Cree Women, Nehiyaw Iskwewak, are sacred in our Cree Culture. We give birth to
our children to give us a long life, therefore, we as Cree women, are to be
respected, protected and cherished.



Mikohwap Iskwew

Ms. E. Saulteaux




I am proud to be a Neyhiaw Iskwew because a strong Mother raised me. She taught
me that women are sacred because they are givers of life. 


Long ago women were held in high regard as we are spiritually powerful.

Iskwew awa e-mahtawisit -A woman is sacred

The Creator gave women ceremonies because women are life givers. 

Manachitak Pimatisiwin-Respect Life

Men must remember to honour and protect women as spiritual beings.

Manacihihkok Iswewak- Respect Women



Nohkom

Our Nohkom holds the family's greatest treasures, the founder of a loving
legacy, the keeper of traditional values and knowledge, the greatest
storyteller.


I am grateful for having a Nohkom that has a heart of gold that is compassionate
and gives unselfishly. Our Nohkom is the family's strongest foundation, the
pillar of strength. I am truly grateful and blessed to have a Nohkom that keeps
the family close at heart.


-Connie Cattleman



I think it is important to understand relationships and how to honor the women
in our lives.  I honor the women in my life by understanding my role within the
family structure.  I never address older females in my family by their names.  I
also expect this from the younger people in my life.  I correct them when they
do not address me properly, respect is earned, but also taught.  

 - Bobbi Houle



Life is not always easy for women but we are strong. There is no easy road. 

We must continue to learn throughout our lives. I am still learning. As we learn
we must be there for and guide those who are younger than us. Women give life.
We raise children. We learn the traditional ways so we can teach the young women
our ways. The ceremonies and teachings are there to guide us in life. Women are
powerful. We are to be respected and loved.    

  -Geraldine Mackinaw

As women we have a gift from the creator, we have the ability to give life,
spiritually having that connection to the life of children, who are pure.
Children have that pure spiritual entity to the creator.  

Life is sacred.

Women who don't have the ability to create life are women, who I believe, still
have that connection to our creator. Spiritually all women are given that
mother's love and can nurture life.   

 * Judy Skeenum 



When it comes to women, we must always remember to respect and honour them. For
it is them who made us who we are. Without them we would not exist, our mothers
gave us life and mother earth gives us all that we need in order to survive. 


- Stephen Wolfe

Women and girls are not always honoured and protected as they should be. 



If you are experiencing harm or have been harmed there is help available.

Many women and girls suffer in silence. 

Connect with someone you trust to help. (Elders, Family, Friends and/or
Professional)

Our experiences, stories and voices matter. 


If you are in immediate danger, call 911


MASKWACIS MOBILE MENTAL HEALTH 780-362-2150 (24Hour) 


ERMINESKIN WOMENS’ SHELTER 780-585-4444 (24Hour)


Call the Family Violence Info Line at 310-1818 to get help anonymously.

Women and Girls are worthy of SAFETY, DIGNITY, RESPECT and HONOUR 



We honour the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, their families and
communities.


There is a  need for awareness and actions that address missing and murdered
Indigenous women and girls, including preventative measures and healing for
affected people.



As women we acknowledge the men who have grown into the role of protector. 


We pray for the men who are just beginning their journey in understanding the
sacredness of women. 


May the Creator and teachings guide your understanding and actions.



PINAWEW PISIM -ᐱᓇᐁᐧᐤ  ᐱᓯᒼ 14 

Tansi Awasisak!

This week we are going to highlight strategies that support holistic wellness!
below you will find strategies to support your mental, physical, spiritual, and
emotional well being! 


MENTAL WELLNESS 



Use your finger to complete the mazes!



PHYSICAL WELLNESS

Try some different yoga exercises! there are lots for all ages on Youtube! 



Move your body and use your brain with a nature scavenger hunt! 



EMOTIONAL WELLNESS 

Emotional Wellness Jar Activity 

 1. Find a jar/ box/ container and decorate it with whatever you have around the
    house

 2. Find some scrap paper and cut it into squares large enough to write a
    sentence or two on 

 3. Write down happy memories, happy thoughts, or anything that makes you smile
    on the papers and keep them in the jar 

 4. Keep adding to the jar whenever something makes you smile

 5. Whenever you need a pick me up pull a paper out of the jar and you will be
    reminded of a time you felt a lot of joy! 

 6. Younger kiddos may need some help with this activity but they can use
    pictures and smaller words to express themselves as well! 


SPIRITUAL WELLNESS 


PINAWEW PISIM- ᐱᓇᐁᐧᐤ  ᐱᓯᒼ 7 

Tansi! The counsellors at NSS have been happy to see all of our cohort 2
students this week. Though we move to 2 weeks of school closures next week, we
want our students to know that we are still here for them and keep them in our
hearts even when we are not together.


Today, we wanted to talk about stress.  Have you ever heard someone say one of
these things before?


“I’m so stressed” 

”You’re stressing me out” 

“Ugh this is too stressful!!”

Maybe you have even said something like this (I know I have!). Well that's
because we all experience stress EVERY DAY in our lives - from trying to keep up
with schoolwork and being part of a family, changing of routines, to living
through this pandemic. Stress is normal and happens to everyone! Sometimes we
even need stress to get things done. For example, being stressed when we wake up
in the morning to get to school may help us to find the energy we need to arrive
at the bus stop on time, eat our breakfast or take a quick shower to start the
day. This would usually be considered a positive stress. 

We also have negative stressors in our lives that can cause our health to be
harmed. Mrs Fehr talks about this “mind-body connection” in the blog post on
ayiki pisim 23. Being too worried, nervous, anxious, STRESSED about things isn’t
good for us. But, when we are brave and able to face our worries, it helps our
brains and bodies and makes us less stressed over time. 

As we continue to go back and forth with our school routine, make sure to take
time to check in with yourself. Think about what is a positive stress in your
life and what is a negative one. Then, feel free to check out our website to see
different resources that you can use to help to make that stress a little
smaller. Want to learn more about how stress works? Check out this video for an
introduction. Remember, if you need help you can always talk a trusted adult who
cares - like your school counsellor - to find out where your stress is coming
from and what to do with it. 



AYÎKI PÎSIM 30: YOU ARE DOING GREAT, WE HAVE GOT THIS.

Bev from Maskwacis Outreach and Teri from Ehepawahk Alternate School would like
to send out our appreciation to students for their ability to stay safe and
connected during the pandemic.  We know that sometimes it can be hard to be
disconnected from friends and the routine of school.  Part of keeping ourselves
healthy, is ensuring that we have a good frame of mind.  Here are a few tools to
help with positive self talk and some phrases that can  remind you of just how
amazing you are.  Know that a positive outlook also helps to see the world in a
little better light. Click on the link below for more information.


Positive Self Talk

The Brain is one of the coolest organs in our body.  It is also important to
understand just a little about how the brain works.  Here are a few resources to
help understand your brain and what it needs to work in the best shape
possible.  Our brains are like elastic bands and by learning and making
mistakes, our brain continues to grow and get stronger.  Click on the link below
to learn a little bit about how your brain works.   



How the Brain works for Teenagers 


AYÎKI PÎSIM 23: MIND-BODY CONNECTION - WHAT IT MEANS AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO
HELP OURSELVES

Hi Everyone, Mrs. Fehr here to share some info on the Mind-body connection.

 

Have you ever…

·       felt so worried or stressed your stomach begins to hurt or you get a
headache?

·       felt so happy or excited your body feels energetic?

·       felt so sad your body feels heavy and exhausted?

 

These are some examples of the mind-body connection. It means our emotions and
the way we think are connected to how our body reacts and vice versa. Sometimes
this is helpful as your gut tells you to run when you are in danger. Other times
it is not helpful if you are worried and your stomach becomes upset so you don’t
eat and this becomes an ongoing pattern.

 

When we experience a negative emotion such as stress, anger or fear, our bodies
produce hormones that continue the stress cycle. In other words, our bodies
creates stress hormones that can keep us stressed! Don’t get me wrong! We need
stress hormones in our body, but having too much can create physical symptoms,
even illnesses, such as ulcers or heart attacks!  One way to “burn off” the
excess stress hormones is to do some type of body movement. Have you ever
noticed that when you go for a walk you often feel better?

 

One of my favourite ways to combat the stress in my body is to calm myself by
mindful breathing. I encourage you to watch and participate in the videos below.
  What do you notice in your body that is different now than before you
participated?


BREATHING


BODY SCAN

Mind-Body Connection


AYÎKI PÎSIM 16: EMOTIONAL REGULATION: WHAT IS IT AND HOW DO WE DO IT?

Emotional-regulation is how your brain helps you control what you’re doing and
what you’re feeling. It happens all the time, often without us even knowing. It
is one of the most important things that humans learn to do.


It is how we learn to make ourselves feel good again after our brain thinks
we're in danger (when we FLIP OUR LIDS: see video).


No one is born knowing how to do Emotional Regulation. Someone has to teach us
how to do by doing it with us. This is called co-regulation.



A key part of understanding our own regulation is knowing how it feels to be
ready and what it feels like to flip our lid. The WINDOW of TOLERANCE (left) is
one way to understand this.

Everyone's window is different and can change from moment to moment, depending
on stress and support.

Staying within the sweet spot of our window of tolerance takes practice and
sometimes help for others, especially in children.

Some ways of getting and staying in our window of tolerance can include doing
things like deep breathing, walking away, having a safe place to go,
visualization, positive self-talk, drawing or writing, having a drink of water
and having a plan with someone you trust.

When children are learning how to regulate their emotions, they will need our
help. This is best done through a process called co-regulation.

Co-regulation is modelling calmness for someone who has flipped their lid, not
joining in their chaos.

To the left are ways to model and teach co-regulation. 

It's not always easy to stay regulated when some one has flipped their lid, this
is normal, take a break if you need to or tag out with someone who can take your
place.  We need to make sure we are regulated to help regulate another.

We can expect lid flips to happen. Making a plan with a person when they are
feeling calm and ready can be helpful. 

Here is an example of a plan when someone has flipped their lid to help get
their thinking brain back online. Even though we have a plan doesn't mean it
will work the first time, it will take practice and may need to be tweaked here
and there, try different things and see what works for you.

It is important to remember that there are many things that effect a person's
ability to regulate emotions. Previous trauma, anxiety, hunger, being tired,
bored, doing something we don't like, and lots of other things can get in the
way. The best way for us to help a person is to co-regulate.

If you would like more information or help with making a plan, please contact
the counsellor at your school.

Ay-hay

AYÎKI PÎSIM 9th:  Let's explore... CREATIVITY

Kanihtawihtahk kikway 

ᑲᓂᐦᑕᐏᐦᑕᐦᐠ ᑭᑿᐩ

TO CREATE 

 WHEN SOMETHING IS GIVEN A VOICE


PRAYER 

We are spiritual beings. 

We are taught to begin with prayer.

Meskanahk Ka Nipa Wit Cree teacher and Elder, Lucy Kammer, shared what she has
been taught from the Elders before her; the knowledge and understanding of
prayer. 

We pray for guidance from the Creator. We pray to walk the right path on earth.
We pray for the wisdom to understand our life has purpose and meaning. We pray
for the spiritual understanding to know and feel we are never alone. The Creator
and our ancestors are with us while we strive to create a good life on earth.
Knowing this, we will have the courage to live life to the fullest.

Creativity and art in any form help us to express ourselves. Art helps us to
better understand ourselves and others.

In addition,creative activities are a great way to deal with stress and cope
with our feelings. This is important anytime, but has become especially
important during this pandemic.

Maybe you are already an artist. Maybe you already create... 

If not, maybe you just haven’t found your favourite form of creativity yet. Keep
trying different things until you have found one that feels right for you.


MUSIC & DANCE

I was taught within our traditional singing, that it is sacred. That not only do
the songs come from the song makers themselves, but from a higher power and that
when we do sing that we are also praying. And that the drum represents the heart
beat of our mother, as it resembles the same sounds of a heart beat that we
heard while our mothers had carried us during pregnancy. To me, to sing is to
heal. Not only do you heal yourself but others, including your ancestors. 

        -Stephen Wolfe-

        Grade 9 Teacher, Meskanahk Ka Nipa Wit school

Music and Dance are powerful expressions of who we are as individuals and as a
society.


PAINTING

Our mind, body and spirit go into a feeling of “flow” – many feel a connection
to our ancestors when immersed in doing something that taps into that inner
creative spirit. Time stands still and our mind is allowed to just be in the
present moment. 


Art is beautiful meditation. You lose yourself in focusing on something creative
and your troubles fall away. 

        -Arlene Greenwall-

         Grade 5 Teacher, Meskanahk Ka Nipa Wit School


COLLAGE

Sometimes ideas just come. But there's one fail-proof way of helping them along:
make a collage. 


JOURNALLING / WRITING

When you are journaling you are giving yourself a voice. You allow yourself to
be heard.


MAKE A MARK...DOODLE IT!

Doodling improves creativity and problem solving because it gives the individual
an opportunity to think differently through visual language.


PHOTOGRAPHY

Photographs stop time, giving us a moment to think, to react, to feel, to soak
in the details of complicated situations.


BEADING

Beading connects us to our history and Cree Values. It helps us to relax and
feel calm. We begin with a design in our mind and then turn that into a visual
creation. When I finish a project, I feel accomplished. I know how much work it
takes to complete a project and feel proud of finishing what I started.

   -Amberly Rain- Grade 6 Teacher, Meskanahk Ka Nipa Wit School


COOKING / BAKING

Cooking is about family, friends, community and culture. 

Food is a universal language. Food is meant to be shared and it brings people
together. 

You can add to recipes to make them your own. Start with simple recipes like
soup or pancakes and dare to be creative!


PLAY

Kids are naturally experts at expressing their creativity through play. When you
play by yourself, with your toys or in nature, you are being creative. When you
play with friends or siblings, you are being creative!

Having fun lifts the spirit and brings joy to life. 

LAUGHTER IS HEALING. LAUGHTER IS MEDICINE. 

Ayikipisim 

Mâcisekwan - have you heard the chickadees with their superpower bird song?

You can be a superhero too! Being your own superhero takes imagination and
commitment just like it did for the creators of those you can find in gaming and
comic books.  We, Mrs Cary and Ms Susan, think that everyone is a superhero and
has amazing gifts and talents that they can be proud of.

 

Lately we have noticed students drawing and talking about Superman, minecraft
characters and other gaming sensations such as Cartoon Cat. Jumping off from
this phenomenon we were inspired to remind you that you can tap into your
superpowers and be your own superhero. Everyone has powers that are unique to
themselves. Some skills and talents include skateboarding, drumming, beading,
climbing trees, drawing, and/or creating a story. Your “powers” can be used to
ward off a villain including anxiety, fear or sadness. Perhaps when you are
outdoors you can recognize the sounds around you first. Perhaps you can create a
great story that others want to play with you. Perhaps …. It is your turn to
fill in the words. Check out the video Mrs Cary did to see what hers is, it is
posted under Fun Stuff (see the bottom of the right hand side bar to find it).  

 

Our challenge for you students (and families) is to come up with a superhero
designed by you that you can call your own. We hope that you will see yourself
in your superhero and discover how you make a difference in your life, family
and community. We hope that you will be inspired to write or tell a story and
then to make your very own superhero storybook - Mrs Cary shows you how to make
a super fun book with paper bags, see the Fun Stuff section. 

 

At the very least every student can find a superhero to admire and learn from.
The Marvel characters below have super interesting stories and a common goal of
peacekeeping.  Interesting websites to explore for ideas are:
:popular-marvel-characters  (this site offers a quick guide to the variety of
superpowers there are as well as both female and male superheros). 

superhero and villain guide (this site offers fewer but an interesting overview
of those they highlight including Superman, Batman and Captain America).



Superheroes can be used to inspire and empower you, students, to be brave enough
to stand up for what you believe is the right thing to do and to imagine new
skills and talents. This is especially important now, because of our ability to
connect with a large audience on the Internet where we need to be able to make
safe and secure choices.

 

Families, let’s talk about helping our students develop characters in their own
comic book story. The two creative exercises suggested are meant to jumpstart
the imagination so that you can find your own superhero and story. The
suggestions below will be fun to do as a family or with an older person who
would like to support and engage in the process.

 

As you work on creating superheros with your child/student remember to ask
questions. After each creative exercise, take a moment to talk about what was
done and how the child feels about creating it or about the story events. When
the superhero meets a problem or solves a problem you can look for words like
mad, sad or glad. These three words are all that is needed for children under 9.
As they get older help expand their vocabulary into disappointed, challenged,
delighted for example. Asking questions shows the child you respect them and
what they think and do matters. You might choose to write down the answers
together so that you have them as reference for building your superhero stories
and storybook. 

 

HAVE FUN WITH "STRING-A-LONG" SUPERHERO STORIES

One fun activity is telling a string-a-long story, which can be done with any
number of people. Parents and children are encouraged to take turns building the
story together.

The story starter can be, ‘Once upon a time…,’ and then the person whose turn it
is to tell the next part of the story says something that connects to the line
before. Telling string-a-long stories, like improvisation, uses your imagination
to think about what comes next in your superhero story. Here is an example to
get you started: 

Person #1 - once upon a time there was a land full of puddles

Person #2 - It was so hard to walk anywhere without getting your feet wet and
the people were sad or mad much of the time

Person #3 - children were even frustrated and wished something could help them

Person #1 - one young student decided to do something to help bring glad
feelings back to the people

Person #2 - they found some waterproof material and designed boots that could
appear and disappear with a snap of the fingers

Person #3 - and everyone could easily walk through puddles without getting their
feet wet Person # 1 - this student found a superpower of invention and they were
no longer sad about the puddles

Person #2 - The people of puddle land were delighted with their new magical
boots.

Person #3 - The people were glad and this student was their superhero! 

 

MAKE A STORYBOOK

You can make a storyboard by having a child draw their characters and then a
series of pictures of the main events in the story on pieces of paper (perhaps
create 8 pieces from one regular size). After the pictures are finished they can
decide on the order (they might choose to rearrange them from the order they
drew them in). Talk about the order and whether it makes sense – since you are
using small pieces of paper, the child can move them around. Once they have the
story in order they can put the pictures in a handmade book like the one Ms Cary
is showing us in a video you can find a link to here Paper Bag Books.MOV 

Or see the section titled Fun Stuff. Mrs Cary’s book is made from materials you
can find around your home such as a paper bag (or save them from your school
meals and bring them home). 


Miyowasin

from Mrs Cary and Ms Susan


NISKI PISIM - 24TH

Tansi Awasisak, 

Spring Break is just around the corner! Things are a bit different this year
with the cohort system but remember it is still important to take a break! It's
okay to work on school a little bit next week but it is still your spring break!
A great time to get outside and do some activities as a family! We have added
some activities below you can do safely within your family groups. Get outside
and stay safe :)




NISKI PISIM - 12TH

Tansi everyone! We are so happy to have students in our schools and are enjoying
getting to know everyone a bit better once again. Us counsellors at
Nipisihkopahk Secondary School wanted to talk about self esteem this week. What
is self-esteem? To put it simply, self-esteem is how you feel about yourself.
Your self-esteem is changing all the time. Sometimes you can wake up in the
morning, feeling confident and happy to be yourself. Other days it is not so
easy, especially when hard things come in your way, like not doing well on a
school assignment or getting in an argument with your friend. Sometimes you
might feel bad about yourself for a little while -that's okay sometimes, and
normal to not always feel our best. The good news is that you can always do
things to improve your self-esteem and build your confidence. Here is a list of
some things to try when you want to feel better about yourself:


 * Start each day saying something positive to yourself in the mirror - use
   affirmations to start your day on the right foot.

 * Practice or participate in  your talents and interests - when we feel good
   about we do, we feel good about ourselves.

 * Spend quality time with the people you love and who love you, too.

 * Turn “I can’t” into “I can” - challenge yourself by deciding to change your
   mind. Once you start saying “I can” you may be surprised what you can
   accomplish.

 * Go to “Fun Stuff” and try Ms. Cassandra’s self-esteem jar!!


We hope these tips can help you to grow your self-esteem. If you are interested
in learning more, check out these youtube video links for more on confidence and
self-esteem for both teenagers and younger kids. Take care!!


Inspiration for blog taken from https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/self-esteem.html




NISKI PISIM - 8TH

Building Positive Relationships

One of the most profound experiences we can have in our lives is the connection
we have with other human beings. Positive and supportive relationships will help
us to feel healthier, happier, and more satisfied with our lives. So here are a
few tips to help you to develop more positive and healthy relationships in all
areas of your life:

Quick Tips

 * Ensure that the relationship you have with yourself is a positive one.

 * Accept and celebrate the fact that we are all different.

 * Actively listen to hear what other people have to say.

 * Give people time and “be present” when you are with them.

 * Develop and work on your communication skills.

 * Manage mobile technology and be aware of its pitfalls.

 * Learn to give and take constructive feedback.

 * Open your heart and find the courage to trust.

 * Learn to be more understanding and empathetic.

 * Treat people as you would like to be treated yourself.

Every relationship we have can teach us something, and by building positive
relationships with others, we will be happier and more fulfilled and feel more
supported, supportive, and connected.

Life's Building Blocks

We hope you have fun working by yourself or with others when you play the LEGO
block games that we have included here.  There are similarities between 
building with blocks  and building self and relationships.


Problem solving skills - Problem solving skills are needed in order to build
these patterned block puzzles. The first steps are to figure out, how do I do
that, what colour do I use, how many blocks do I need to build this formation?
Problem solving skills in life are important because this is when we are making
choices. Effective problem-solving skills can result in confident, and more
independent individuals. When children tackle problems on their own, or in a
group they learn to look at challenges differently/positively.


Imagination/Creativity - Once a child has mastered the Lego examples, they can
now use their imagination to make their own plan or if they're playing with
friends, they can work together to create the Lego pattern. Blocks can be moved
, combined and recombined in countless ways.  No end to the possibilities. 
Imagination and creativity foster's cognitive and social development, along with
developing creative problem solving  abilities.   Albert Einstein said,
creativity is intelligence having fun. 


Self-expression - Blocks offer many ways for learner's to explore, create and
express themselves.  Self-expression in one's life gives us enjoyment and an
opportunity to share our feelings, thoughts or ideas in writing art, music,
dance. 


Social and emotional growth - Playing with blocks can help children learn to
take turns and share materials, develop new friendships, become self-reliant,
increase attention span, cooperate with others, and develop self-esteem. Builds
self-esteem and feelings of success. 


Building LEGO is fun!  Who knew we are also building character traits that will
benefit us in the future?


LEGO Block Patterns - using the patterns below, construct the figures.  Once you
have done it once, then time yourself constructing the second time.  The third
time you can challenge a family member to construct one of the patters.  Have
fun and remember the skills that you are developing by simply building LEGO
patterns.  



MIKISIW PISIM - 26TH


We ALL have GIFTS, We just need to open them!

Mr. Roberts

EJSH School Counsellor


It is so good to be back in school.  It has been such a long time and the school
has felt like just a building until you arrived.  The lockdown has been very
difficult for many of us.  It has presented us with challenges while at the same
time allowing us to look at ourselves, spend more time with family, and realize
what is important to us.  It has felt so good to connect and support you as you
get back into the thick of school.  


We ALL have gifts, we just need to open them!  What does this mean?  There is
nothing more important than knowing who we are and what we have to give to
others.  The world needs us and is much better off with us in the world doing
what we do best, whatever it is.  All types of people are needed in this world. 
A quote I like goes, “The sky is full of stars and there’s room for them ALL to
shine.”  


We need to take the time to notice gifts in each and every one of us as we all
have them.  We only need to open ourselves to discover what they are and how
they can help us to help others.  Gifts are not meant to stand alone but to give
to others.    So, how can we discover our gifts?  Here are some practical ways
to get started.  Think about these questions and write down your responses:


1. What do you like to do?  What do you spend most of your time doing? 

2. What is important to you in general?  In your family, school, friendships, 

etc.?  Make a list in each area of your life as these will define what you value
in life.  Using these will help you find purpose and direction.

3. Take an online strengths assessment such as the Clifton Strengths 

Assessment.  It is important to know where your strengths lie so you can 

do the things that will move you closer to the place where you belong.  Use
these strengths to help you with your own development and growth.

4. Ask those around you that you trust and love like family and friends what 

they believe your greatest strength.  Hopefully this will confirm what you
already know about yourself and give you something to think about.


After identifying what your strengths, passions, and purpose in life seems to
be, find as many ways as you can to use your gifts.  Be creative and reflect on
all you have to offer.  Put it out into the world and see what comes back.  


We are all who we are and we have the gifts we have for a reason.  We are
uniquely unique and our gifts are sacred to us and to those around us.  Whether
we were meant to lead (or follow), or work with animals (or people), or draw or
create (or sell those drawings and creations) or be amazing storytellers in
books (or in person around the campfire) or any number of gifts and abilities
that can be named.  We are all given gifts that make us who we are and allow us
to change the world, even if it is just in our corner of the world.  We can all
make a difference with our gifts.  We just have to open them to see what they
are.  So, start opening!  What are you waiting for?


MIKISIW PISIM ᒥᑭᓯᐤ  ᐱᓯᒼ 19TH


NAME IT TO TAME IT: GRIEF

In December we posted a video from our Name it to Tame It series that focused on
emotions in general. This week we’re focusing on one particular set of feelings:
grief in children. It can be helpful for children (and adults) to know what
might be expected and some healthy ways to cope. Below, we’ve broken the info
into sections so you can take from it what you need. Hopefully it’s of some help
in supporting the children in your life. It has been shown by research that
children who know more about grief often have an easier time coping, please feel
free to share the information with your child as you see fit. Below you will
find info for adults and children about grief. Feel free to use or not as you
see fit.


WHAT IS GRIEF

 * Grief is what we feel when we lose a connection to something important to us.

 * Grief and mourning are not necessarily the same. Grief is often described as
   the immediate feelings from a loss. This differs from mourning as it is
   related more to reflection, memories, and ritual surrounding a loss.

 * There are no rules about what we grieve or how. 



HOW TO TALK TO YOUNGER CHILDREN ABOUT GRIEF

from https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/death.html for more details and examples,
please click on the link.

 * When talking about death, use simple, clear words. 

 * Listen and comfort. 

 * Every child reacts differently to learning that a loved one has died. Some
   kids cry. Some ask questions. Others seem not to react at all. That's OK. 

 * Stay with your child to offer hugs or reassurance. 

 * Answer your child's questions or just be together for a few minutes.

 * Put emotions into words. 

 * Talk about your own feelings

 * Tell your child what to expect. 

 * Talk about funerals, wakes, and rituals. 

 * Share your family's beliefs about what happens to a person's soul or spirit
   after death.

 * Explain what happens after the service

 * Give your child a role (if they want). 

 * Help your child remember the person. 

 * Don't avoid mentioning the person who died. Recalling and sharing happy
   memories helps heal grief and activate positive feelings.

 * Respond to emotions with comfort and reassurance. 

 * Ask about feelings and listen.

 * Let your child know that it takes time to feel better after a loved one
   dies. 

 * Support groups and counselling can help kids who need more support.

 * Help your child feel better. Provide the comfort your child needs, but don't
   dwell on sad feelings. 

 * Give your child time to heal from the loss. Grief is a process that happens
   over time.  

Children's Book: The Invisible String written and read by Patricia Karst


We like to think of grief by thinking of our connections to things and people as
invisible strings that get changed in some way. The following video is one we
like to help explain grief to children and personal connection. 


After listening to the book, it might be useful to talk to your child about the
people they hold invisible strings with as a way to know they are not alone and
that their connections continue, even after loss.


SOME THINGS PEOPLE GRIEVE 

 * Grief is often associated with death, but there are many other things we can
   grieve:

 * Death of a person

 * Death of a pet

 * Not getting to see someone important to us

 * Losing a thing that is important (an item, a job, etc.)

 * Losing trust in someone close to us

 * Changes in our lives (like COVID-19’s changes)

 * Divorce/Separation

 * Being let down

Grief Brings up lots of feelings


As you can see in the picture, the feelings grief comes with can be complicated
and confusing. Sometimes we can even feel nothing at all. We won’t always
understand what we’re feeling or why. Sometimes, there can even be lighter and
even joyful feelings. This is also a normal reaction to grief and not something
a person needs to feel concerned or guilty about. Although these feelings can be
difficult, recognizing them and naming them can often help tame them.




SOME WAYS TO COPE WITH GRIEF

There are times when the feelings of grief can be too confusing and difficult to
deal with on our own. During these times we may need extra help. Each person
deals with grief differently. Below are some different, healthy coping ideas
that might be useful to some people.

 * Talking to someone you trust

 * Ceremony and ritual

 * Prayer and reflection

 * Being with good friends and family (this can even include pets)

 * Self-Care

 * Connect with nature

 * Counselling services 

 * Play

 * Being patient and forgiving with ourselves

 * Cry when you need, laugh when you can

 * Trust your instincts

 * Mindfulness

 * Journaling

 * Exercise



WÂHKÔHTOWIN  

A message of encouragement in challenging times

Tansi!


Life is full of ups and downs. The Elders have experienced many things in their
lifetime, this is why we seek their guidance.

We are so grateful the Elders of Maskwacîs are willing to share their knowledge
with us. 


We listen to the Elders so we can learn and grow.


We remember a time when Meskanahk Ka Nipa Wit School Elder and Cree Teacher,
Lucy Kammer, shared with us what it means to listen and understand. 


Mrs. Kammer shared that to learn and grow, we need to hear what is being said,
we need to think about what is being said, we need to feel what is being said
and we need to understand what is being said. This is how we can learn and grow
in life. 

We learn from each other.


In the video, Mrs. Kammer shares a message of encouragement, love, kindness and
compassion.  Mrs. Kammer helps us understand that when we help each other, we
become stronger.


We want to thank Lucy Kammer for taking the time to make this video. We have so
much to learn from the Elders.


With deep appreciation, Sandi & Julia from Meskanahk Ka Nipa Wit School and Ms
Leann from Kisipatnahk School.

Tansi --Mikisowipisim 05

Tansi Kiyawaw! This is Ms. Cary Northwest, along with Ms. Susan Spyker popping
in to see how everyone has been during this period of not being in school. We’ve
been spending some time going through the counsellor page on the MESC site and
are amazed at how many things there are to do for all awâsisak/oskâyak
(children/youth) students. There is a lot for ohpikinahawasiwin
(parents/guardians) to do and read as well. 

We especially want to thank Miss Mariah for making up the page of counsellor
pictures -- we know we speak for all of the counsellors when we say that we are
really missing you, Kiyawaw!

In December we talked about big feelings including being angry or mad . We can
all agree that feeling mad does not feel good in our bodies. Did you know that
often anger comes with another emotion? Our feelings might get hurt and we feel
angry towards the person who hurt us. We might have lost someone or something
important to us and along with grief, we might feel angry that we don’t have
them any longer. Listen to the audio below where a traditional Cree story is
told. It is a story gathered by Harvey McCue called, The Granddaughter who was
eaten by a Big Fish. In this story, Beulah has disobeyed her Kohkom. How do you
think she is feeling? Sad that she misbehaved? Guilty that she should have
listened? Mad that the fish ate her? Maybe relieved that her Kohkom caught the
fish and rescued her? Could be any of them, or perhaps a combination of two or
more feelings. 

The words to this story are included so that you, parents/guardians, may learn
the story and adjust it to meet your storytelling needs. Perhaps it would make
more sense to have a grandfather as the other main character. Or that it is a
story about a grandson. Oral storytelling traditions allow the teller to tweak
the story. Mainly the storyteller would want to remember the plot and the main
characters. . 

And, as always, if you are having feelings that are too big to handle on your
own reach out to family, friends, school teachers, counsellors or someone else
close to you.

Cary Northwest, carynorthwest@maskwacised.ca  Phone: 780-585-2075  Text only:
780-312-3273 

  Susan Spyker, susanspyker@maskwacised.ca Phone: Ermineskin Kindergarten
780-585-3788

              or Mimiw Sakahikan School 780-586-3808  Text only: 780-312-8858

                                                          



Audio (above) is the telling of a traditional Cree story -  The Granddaughter
who was eaten by a Big Fish


THE GRANDDAUGHTER WHO WAS EATEN BY A BIG FISH



 (WORDS TO THE STORY OPEN WITH TINY ARROW RIGHT OF THESE WORDS)




Children, I have a story to tell. This is a story about Kohkum and her
mischievous granddaughter, Beulah. Beulah was a very curious little girl. She
was always wandering off from the camp, looking for adventures. Kohkum was
always telling her to listen. One day, Gookum asked Beulah to get some water
from the lake so she could make soup. 


“Whatever you do, don’t go swimming in the lake alone,: said Kohkum. 


“Why not?” asked Beulah. 


“Because there is a giant fish in that lake, and he will catch you and swallow
you up if you swim too far.”


“Eeeeeeeya, Kohkum. I’m not afraid of a big fish.”


So, Beulah went off to collect the water. Oh, it was a nice warm day. The sun
shone brightly. 


Squirrel chattered with much to say as she walked along the path. 


“Go away, silly  Squirrel. I am busy.”


Butterfly flew playfully around the girl. She ran around in circles trying to
catch Butterfly until it flew away. “I am really hot now,” Beulah said to
herself. 


Finally Beulah came to the lake. She went to the big rock where Kohkum had shown
her to stand to get water. She dipped her buckets in the lake. They filled up
quickly. Those buckets were heavy now. She had to be very careful when she
carried them to the shore. They were soooo heavy. With a cup, she scooped out
the little sticks and leaves that floated on the top. She was ready to carry
them back now. Carrying the buckets to the shore had made Beulah so tired. She
lay down next to the water, in a nice spot on a large flat rock. The sun shone
on her. She was very hot, so she took off her shirt. 


Blue Jay landed in a tree next to the path. Blue Jay called noisily to her. 


“You noisy old bird. Stop disturbing me.” Blue Jay flew away. 


Beulah decided to have a quick swim, just to cool off before she took the
buckets of water back for Kohkum. She removed all of her clothes and dived in. 


The water was nice and cool. Beulah was a good swimmer. She decided she would
swim out as far as she could. As she swam out, Beulah saw a huge silver flash in
the water. It was a great big fish. With one gulp Fish swallowed her whole!
Beulah found she was trapped in the stomach of the huge fish Kohkum had warned
her about. 


“Oh no,” she cried. “I should have listened to Kohkum!”

Beulah had been gone a long time. Kohkum thought that she had found an adventure
and forgotten to get water. There was no point in worrying about her -- there
were chores to be done around camp. Kohkum cut wood and made dinner. When Beulah
wasn’t home by night, Kohkum was worried. She knew the little girl was able to
take care of herself in the woods though and went to sleep. 


The next day, Beulah still was not back. Kohkum needed food, so she gathered the
fishing net and went down to the lake. She caught six fish. One was a huge
creature that stretched as long as her arms and more. That big fish would feed
the whole family for a week.


She started cutting up all the fish. When she finally got to the big fish, she
slid the knife into the belly. Beulah jumped out, very much alive. 


At first, Kohkum was startled, but she quickly realized it was Beulah. Beulah
was covered from head to toe in slimy, sticky fish innards. 


She shook her head at Beulah and began to laugh at her. “I told you, I told you
not to swim in the lake by yourself..” Beulah bowed her head and said nothing.
She just went to the lake to clean off all the smelly fish slime and went back
home when clean. 



Tansi! 

It's Erika, from NES here! I want to say just how excited I am that we get to
have some of you BACK IN THE BUILDING this week! The last couple of weeks may
have been hard learning from home, but we want to remind you that you are doing
your best and that is good enough! It's easy to be hard on yourself when we are
doing hard things! Learning from home is hard, not seeing our friends and family
is hard, keeping routine while you are at home is hard! But remember what Dr.
Jody Carrington says! "we are wired to do hard things!" Remind yourself you are
doing your best, and watch any negative self-talk, try replacing negative things
with some positive affirmations!



Tansi Awasisak, 

Ms. Jordee here, I would like to welcome you all back to this New week, New
month and New year of 2021! All of us here at NES are so very excited and happy
to be seeing your lovely faces (with masks on!) Wapahki! Just a reminder that
the Counsellors are available and I can’t wait to see you all. Get some rest,
drink some water and get a good night’s rest for tomorrow we are all back in the
school.  




KISÊPÎSIM 22/JAN. 22

Tansi everyone! Miss Mariah from NSS here. The start of a new year can be an
exciting time... ESPECIALLY the start of this year! There are many ways to honor
and celebrate the new year. From fireworks, countdowns, and even housecleaning,
a New Year can bring a fresh feeling of new opportunities. Some people even mark
the start of a New Year by making a New Years resolution. What is a resolution? 
I read in this article from the History channel that resolutions started as a
way to make promises to the Kings of old way, way back about 4000 years ago.
Usually they began after big festivals in January or February and people
promised to return things they had borrowed. 

Nowadays, it is like a promise to yourself to do or not do something.  Usually
it is to help you make a positive change in your life. To put it simply, a
resolution can be a way to reach a goal. For example, I could want to be a
better reader. My resolution would be to read 20 minutes a day. That would be
really hard for me as I don’t like to read when I am not working. I might have
to make a schedule, set aside a certain time, or tell the people I live with
about my resolution to help keep me accountable. 

Sometimes our goals in life are really big and important, like choosing a career
or learning a new skill. Other times, they could be simple small things that
eventually turn into changes in our everyday routines. A great tip on making
sure we reach our goals is to use the SMART goal system. Using these 5 steps can
help us to make sure we reach our goals, but also that our goals are broken down
into steps that help us get there.

So what are you waiting for?!?! I can’t wait to see what goals we can all
achieve in 2021! From all of the counselling team at MESC, we wish you a safe,
healthy and happy new year -  Kamîyo Ocehto Kîsikanisinâwaw! 



TRYING SOMETHING NEW FOR 30 DAYS!



(PAWÂCAKINASÎS 18/DEC.18) 

By Bev (MOS Counsellor) & Teri (Ehpewapahk Counsellor)


DROP YOUR SHOULDERS 

Sometimes when life starts to feel heavy, we need a small reminder to just
breathe.  Here is a quick tiktok video to help walk you through a relaxation
activity to help.  Click on the "Drop your Shoulders" words and the link will
come up for you.  



GRATITUDE

Bev found an amazing song to help remind us the importance of gratitude and
finding people in our lives that we are thankful for.  Click on the word
"Gratitude" to see the youtube link. Often when we are struggling to manage our
emotions, we see the world in a dark way.  Listen to the song and then do the
activity below to help refocus your ability to see the world in a positive way. 

Activity - Write a few sentences with one or two of the following ideas.

-What was the best thing that happened today?

-Name something that makes you happy.

-Where is your favorite place to go real or imagined?

-What is the best gift that you have ever received?

-Name a person that you love and why.

-Who do you like to spend time with and why?


(PAWÂCAKINASÎS 11/DEC.11) 

Hey Everyone,

It’s Mrs. Fehr from Ermineskin Junior Senior High School.  Wow, time has gone
very quickly for me this fall! Now that the snow has come, my mind has drifted
to Christmas! I was thinking about how Christmas is sometimes a challenging time
for some people who are anxious. It makes me wonder how people will cope with
anxiety this year with Covid-19!

 It seems that everywhere I go someone is talking about Covid-19. While it is
important to talk about, it can make us feel anxious and fearful especially when
we have loved ones we are worried about.

One of the most important things to remember is to educate ourselves with the
facts about Covid-19. (See Alberta.ca for facts). Please remember there is a lot
of information posted on social media that is not true and seeing it might
create more anxiety. What happens when we are feeling anxious? I feel a
tightness in my neck and shoulders, and my heart beats faster than usual. How do
you feel in your body when you are anxious? Helping your body relax will help
ease some of the anxiety you are feeling.

Mr. Roberts and I have added some things on this website to help you cope with
the anxiety that Covid-19 might bring. Take a look at the resources we have
added to the caregiver page and check out the fun stuff page showing some of the
things we do when we are feeling stressed and anxious.

It’s important to take care of ourselves now more than ever during this time of
COVID-19.



(PAWÂCAKINASÎS 4/DEC.4) 


NAME IT TO TAME IT: INTRODUCTION TO FEELINGS.

This is the first in a video series about being feelings detectives. This one
talks about recognizing our own feelings and others'. Future videos will deal
with specific feelings, including grief, which will be our next video.


THE WAY I FEEL  

This is the book The Way I Feel, written and illustrated by Janan Cain. It's all
about feelings.  This will give you more information about some of the feelings
we talked about in our video.  Check it out!


TANSI! IHKOPÎWIPÎSIM 23

There is a storm cloud in my tummy! 

Tansi  Being a parent or caregiver can be satisfying and fun. It can also be
challenging and frustrating. Children’s anger often provides us with a challenge
or dilemma. It is helpful when children learn safe limits to their behavior for
their own security and for the safety of others. They also need to know that
their feelings are understood. When this happens a child feels validated and is
helped to develop a healthy sense of self. 

Ms Cary Northwest and Ms Susan Spyker, school counsellors have put together a
couple of videos addressing big feelings that include frustration,
disappointment all the way to anger. Ms Cary is reading a great story called
Alexander and The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst.
She is inviting you to use your imagination while you listen. You might imagine
a storm cloud forming in your tummy as the events happen through the day. It is
helpful to visualize and connect with where feelings are coming from. The storm
cloud craft might help with that.  

Ms Cary and Ms Susan hope that you will listen to the story, make the craft and
share your reflections on them. Are you aware of where you feel frustration
building? What do you think of storms? 

We both hope that you are staying safe, getting some fresh air and will be
noticing your feelings as they sometimes come and go like weather. 

Ms Cary Northwest is a counsellor at Grace Marie Swampy Memorial Primary School
(The Pink School) and can be contacted by email or phone. She can be reached by
emailing carynorthwest@maskwacised.ca or texting or phoning 780-312-3273.

Ms Susan Spyker is a counsellor at Mimiw Sakahikan School and Ermineskin
Kindergarten School. She can be reached by emailing susanspyker@maskwacised.ca
or texting or phoning +1 587-205-5310 or leave a message with the school. 

There are many more wonderful blogs and videos on the MESC counselling website.
You can find them at https://sites.google.com/maskwacised.ca/mesccounselling/




TANSI! IT'S NOVEMBER 13 AND THIS IS ERIKA AND JORDANA FROM NES! 

This week we have added some resources to the Caregiver page about routine and
how to make learning from home a success! Whether you are only working from home
with your child every other week, or you are choosing to learn from home full
time there are challenges and we are here to support you! The entire counselling
team also wants to ensure you know we are available to every MESC student no
matter where they are learning from this year! 


IHKOPÎWIPÎSIM  - (NOVEMBER) 9.



TANISI! STEPHEN AND JAN AT EJSH HERE. WE WANTED TO SHARE OUR GOOGLE CLASSROOM
WITH ANY STUDENTS FROM OUR SCHOOL AS A WAY TO CONNECT WITH US. PLEASE USE THE
LINK BELOW TO CHECK IT OUT!

https://classroom.google.com/c/MTkwMTM4MjIyNDU4?cjc=q2ucvvo

TOP 10 SELF-REGULATION STRATEGIES

 1.  Breathing - Deep belly breaths, 5 finger breathing, or doing a guided
     meditation

 2.  Doing physical activity - Even something as simple as going for a walk

 3.  Have a snack and drink some water - Healthy food that helps my brain feel
     energized and uplifted

 4.  Listen to uplifting music - Picking your favorite feel-good beat to groove
     to

 5.  Do something sensory - Playing with a fidget, make slime, or a mind in a
     jar

 6.  Have quiet time in a safe space - Sometimes it’s fine to relax and be by
     yourself

 7.  Get creative - Make a craft, do some art, draw or colour

 8.  Find a distraction  - Talk about something different, watch a funny video,
     just change it up!

 9.  Read a book -We have put one in our “fun stuff” for you to enjoy

 10. Stay connected and ask for help - talk to a friend or family member, go on
     to the MESC counselling website, speak to an elder about ceremony, prayer,
     or support



IHKOPÎWIPÎSIM  - (NOVEMBER) 6.

Tansi Everyone!


This year has been off to a wild start! I was so excited to go back to school
and see all of my students and coworkers. I was happy to see some familiar
smiling faces, but it was a weird time to come back and only find half of the
people here. Then, in October, our schools shut down again and I had to go back
home, just when I was starting to get the hang of things. I haven’t felt like
myself lately and have really mixed up feelings. Some days I am happy, excited
to face the world, and have lots of energy. Other days I am lonely, bored,
tired, and just BLAH. My friend Ms Erika showed me this video about
self-regulation and it really helped me to understand what is happening when I
lose control of my emotions.


Right now, I am dysregulated. My lid is getting flipped easily, I am in the red
or blue zone all the time, and things just don’t feel right. I would really like
to be regulated again. I want to be in the green zone, with my lid on, calm, and
ready to face the world no matter what the day brings. I needed to find some
strategies to help me feel like me again so I asked the other counsellors at NSS
to help me come up with a list of best strategies for self regulation.


The MESC counselling website has a lot of good tools to be able to use when I am
feeling all sorts of different things, so find what is best for you and make
your own list! It has been hard to practice these when I am feeling good, but I
know it is important to do so that when I am dysregulated I can easily come back
to my strategies and be ready to go once more - no matter what comes at me!!!



KASKATINO PISIM - (OCTOBER) 29.

Tanisi Ohpikinahawasiwahk ekwa awâsisak (parents, guardians and children),

We are excited to announce that this website is going to be re-invigorated for
the duration of the school year as we work to support students and families,
wherever they may be learning from. We are all busy working on creating content
and we should have some new posts weekly, starting in November. 

We also wanted everyone to know that counselling services remain available to
all MESC students, regardless of where they are learning. Feel free to contact
your child's school or submit a counselling request through the Connect With
Counsellor Page (for non-emergency counselling) to find out more. We look
forward to hearing from you!


ONÔCIHITOWIPÎSIM- (SEPTEMBER) 26. 



MAMAWI AYAYAH! (WE'RE TOGETHER AGAIN!). THE MESC COUNSELLING TEAM IS PLEASED TO
INTRODUCE THE EJSH COUNSELLORS! WATCH THE VIDEO TO FIND OUT A LITTLE MORE ABOUT
THEM.


OPASKAWEHO PISIM- (JUNE) 26.


Tanisi Ohpikinahawasiwahk ekwa awâsisak (parents, guardians and children),

We hope this message finds all of you well. As you know, the end of our school
year is approaching quickly and we want to make sure that all families have
access to mental health support over the summer in these tricky times. We’re
hoping that the following will serve as a tool to find help when and if it is
needed, as MESC counsellors are not available through the summer months. As
always, the numbers below can be called as a first step and there doesn’t need
to be an immediate crisis to call. It is always best to call and talk to a
knowledgeable helper who can help with the next steps. As always, we are wishing
you the very best and really look forward to being in the schools again this
fall. Please know that all of the below information (and more) will continue to
be available on the MESC Counselling Website at
https://counselling.maskwacised.ca/ . 

Kindest regards,

MESC Counselling Team


 MENTAL HEALTH AND CRISIS CONTACTS

If you are unsure about if you should call any of the below numbers, please call
and they will help direct you if needed. It is better to call if you are unsure.

 * * Maskwacis Mobile Mental Health: crisis line 780-362-2150

 * * Text4Hope: Text COVID19HOPE to 393939 to subscribe for ways to cope with
     feelings of isolation, etc.

 * * Maskwacis RCMP: 780-585-3767

 * * Maskwacis Ambulance: 780-585-4000

 * * Kids Help Line: 1-800-668-6868

 * * Kids Help Line Text: text ‘connect’ to 686868

 * * FN and Inuit hope for wellness: 1-855-242-3310

 * * Mental Health Help Line:  1-877-303-2642

 * * Addiction Help Line: 1-866-332-2322

 * * Connectteen: text only 587-333-2724

 * * Youthspace: text only 778-783-0177

 * * Suicide Prevention: text 45645 call 1-833-456-4566

 * * Maskwacis counselling:  780-585-2268 (Can also be contacted via Facebook)

 * * https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page16944.aspx (COVID-19 info)



OPASKAWEHO PISIM- (JUNE) 19.

Freshly Made Bannock...mmmm!

Tanisi,  Mrs. Fehr here from Samson Elementary (NES). I hope everyone is doing
well!

Every year, June is Pride Month in Canada🏳‍🌈.  It is a time that LGBTQI2S
celebrate through pride parades and other celebrations. If you want to learn
more about how Pride month began, check out this link.
https://blog.gale.com/prideparades/

June 21 is Father’s day! This is the time of year when we acknowledge and honor
the father figures in our lives. Check out these links for fun Father’s Day
facts, jokes, and crafts.

June 21 is also National Indigenous Peoples day. I’m thinking about my own
heritage and how I am proud to know certain things about my culture. I remember
as a child learning from my Cree mom and Nokom how to make bannock. My mom
always “baked” her bannock in a frying pan over the campfire. She also taught me
how to roast it over the campfire on a stick or fry it in hot oil. I liked the
hot oil ones the best! I learned how to make bannock when I was about eight
years old, and still make it for my family. They love it when I make a big
batch! Making bannock is a tradition that I am proud of and I am passing this
knowledge on to my children and grandchildren. It makes me feel connected to the
Cree part of me and to all my relations. What part of your culture are  you
proud of? What makes you feel close to your family and relatives? All this
bannock talk is making me hungry! I’m heading to the kitchen to make some now! 

Pride affirmations.pdf

AFFIRMATIONS

Here are some affirmations for the month of June following our theme of PRIDE.

What are affirmations? Affirmations are simple, positive statements that we can
say to ourselves. They help us to affirm, validate, or encourage ways of
positive self-talk. They can help us to calm anxieties in times of worry, reach
our goals, or feel good about ourselves.

How do they work? Read the affirmations in your head. Say them outloud. Think of
times when you felt this way - proud of you! You can repeat them daily or put
them in a special place as a reminder of your strength and pride. 


OPASKAWEHO PISIM- (JUNE) 12.

HI EVERYONE! Sandi here , from Meskanahk Ka Nipa Wit School

This week’s blog is about one of my favorite things. MUSIC. 

I have a million playlists with a lot of different types of music. When I like a
song, I put it on replay..it drives my family crazy. 

MUSIC is so many things….

Historical, Political, Spiritual, Personal, Social, Fun and so much more...

Here are some examples of the many things music can be *(disclaimer for younger
children: I've checked the songs for "non-school language" but there may be some
more mature themes): 

photo: A Tribe Called Red

MUSIC IS POWERFUL

“We can manifest our genius through what no one can take away-our voices and our
music” 

                            -Cornel West

Music is a powerful creative expression of who we are and where we come from.

N’WE JINAN Youth and Music!!!

Check out this amazing song…..HOME TO ME

N'we Jinan Artists - "HOME TO ME" // Grassy Narrows First Nation 

Music can make us feel understood...We can listen to a song and say to ourselves
“I felt that”.  It can reflect and affirm our most painful and most joyful
experiences. Songs often become deeply connected to memory.  

Mix - Sky World- By Bear Fox performed by Teio Swathe

Music can help us better understand things that are within or outside our
experiences.

Dear Mama-2Pac

Music can be our voice. Music is about being heard.

Wavin Flag-K’Naan

Music is connected to identity. 

Mix - Nunavut Sivuniksangat by Jennifer and Natashia

Music is deeply rooted in tradition and history. 

Stay Red-Northern Cree

Music is connected to Justice or lack of Justice. 

Make It Bun Dem-Skrillex & Damian ‘Jr Gong’ Marley

Music can give us hope.

Olalla-Blanco White  

Music can inspire and motivate us. 

The Script-Hall of Fame




I love music!!! 

This picture is me  when a song I like is on! 

Now, something to try at home:

Pay attention to how different songs make you think and feel….Does the song make
you feel relaxed, sad, motivated, hopeful, bold, strong, does the song remind
you of someone or something? Etc…

Some Local Music: What does music mean to Paul Coutre? He had this to say...

“Music has been there for me when nobody else was. It’s been the parent, my
Mother or Father when they were not healthy enough to be there for me. Music was
the motivation that taught me right from wrong. MUSIC is a LIFE CHANGER”

PAUL HELPED TO CREATE the SONG MAKE IT OUT ALIVE

TALENT...

MONTANA FIRST NATION, MASKWACIS

In 2019 Students from Meskanahk Ka Nipa Wit School created a powerful song
titled Make It Out Alive.  Click on the link to listen.  The song Make it Out
Alive is just below the documentary video Life into Lyrics.



LIFE INTO LYRICS - MONTANA FIRST NATION - DARKSPARK

ABOUT THE SONG students worked with the production company Darkspark to write
and record their song. 

Students wanted to give voice to the HOPE, COURAGE, STRENGTH, WISDOM and the
BEAUTY of who they are as CREE PEOPLE and their home, MASKWACIS. 

They also knew it was important to express their thoughts and feelings about
Indigenous Youth who may be experiencing a loss of trust, hope and identity.
Students wanted to address the loss of loved ones through tragic circumstances
like suicide, addiction, violence  and those loved ones who are missing or not
in there lives for other reasons. They decided to speak to the struggles. They
decided to give suffering a voice. 

THEY PRODUCED A BEAUTIFUL MASTERPIECE...A SONG

With wisdom beyond their years, they shared a story of who they are that is
filled with  COURAGE, TRUTH, LOVE, HONOUR, HOPE and DIGNITY.

 It was a great honour to share the experience with them and I am so entirely
proud of their outstanding achievement! Look directly below for a link to the
site and video of this song.



AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, A FEW OF SANDI'S FAVOURITE SONGS! AND CHECK BELOW FOR
SOME SONGS TO SING TO FROM MS. CASSANDRA!

In my mind -Dynoro

Roses-Imanbek Remix

Faded-Alan Walker 

Clint Eastwood-Gorillaz

Reality-Lost Frequencies 

Tomorrow Never Comes- Zac Brown Band 


SING IT OUT! SINGING HAS A LOT OF BENEFITS FOR OUR MINDS AND BODIES. BELOW ARE
SOME TUNES TO GET YOU STARTED!

Happy -By:Pharrell Williams

On Me- By: Thomas Rhett, Kane Brown & Ava Max

Saturday Sun- By: Vance Joy

Sunday Best- By: Surfaces

The Other Side- By: SZA & Justin Timberlake

Know Your Worth- By: Khalid & Disclosure

Happier- By: Marshmello & Bastille

Sunflower- By: Post Malone & Swae Lee

Summer Feelings- By: Lennon Stella & Charlie Puth

Thunder- By: Imagine Dragons



OPASKAWEHO PISIM- (JUNE) 5.


JUNE IS INDIGENOUS HISTORY MONTH

Treaty No. 6 was signed on August 23, 1876 at Fort Carlton in Saskatchewan. The
total area of the Treaty stretches from western Alberta, through Saskatchewan
and into Manitoba; and includes 50 First Nations. Provisions in the Treaty
recognize the notion of the medicine chest as well as the right to education. 
Chief Bobtail signed the treaty for the Cree people in 1877 and was the first to
select the current Maskwacis site as their home.  


JUNE IS PRIDE MONTH

 Pride month is an opportunity to peacefully protest and raise political
awareness of current issues facing the community. 


WE ARE ALMOST THERE...HANG IN THERE

We are getting close to the end of the school year, just a few short weeks
left.  This may cause some excitement in some and anxiety in others.  Here are a
few activities to help get you through.  You can visit this page in the summer
months and use any of the activities over and over again.   




PINAWEW PISIM-ᐱᓇᐁᐧᐤ  ᐱᓯᒼ (MAY) 29.


GRATITUDE

What is Gratitude?

Gratitude is when we are thankful for the everyday things in our lives that make
us happy and feel good.  We can be grateful for the things we have, the people
around us and ourselves. It's about focusing on what's good in our lives and
being thankful for the things we have. Gratitude is pausing to notice and
appreciate the things that we often take for granted, like having a place to
live, food, clean water, friends, family, even computer access. Some things that
Mrs. Dewald, Miss Charlene and Ms. Leann are grateful for are the teachings
brought to us by Elders, community and MESC like our 4 principles that we strive
for in everyday interactions. 

 These include: 

1.Iyiniw Mamitonehicikan ᐃᔨᓂᐤ ᒪᒥᑐᓀᐦᐃᒋᑲᐣ

Be compassionate; recognize one another’s diverse experiences, views and voice. 

2. Nehiyawewin ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐍᐏᐣ

Be careful with your words; listen, learn, ask questions, and take time to
reflect.

3. Nehiyaw Pimatisowin  ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐤ  ᐱᒫᑎᓰᑐᑕᒼ VTI 

Be actively engaged; open-minded, honour spirit and one another.

4. Wahkohtowin ᐘᐦᑯᐦᑐᐏᐣ

Build positive relationships; approach every interaction from a place of love
and respect.



Just above is a video explaining what Gratitude is and how it can help us each
day: 

Here are 10 prompts to get you started.

Draw something…

 1.  That makes you happy

 2.  You couldn’t live without

 3.  Someone that helps you

 4.  That makes you smile

 5.  You love to do

 6.  You are thankful for

 7.  Someone you love

 8.  You think is fun

 9.  That makes you feel good

 10. That makes you laugh




PINAWEW PISIM-ᐱᓇᐁᐧᐤ  ᐱᓯᒼ (MAY) 15

Tanisi everyone! Miss Mariah from NSS here. These days, I am feeling that it is
hard to stay home a lot. Does anyone else feel that way? It sometimes makes me
feel sad, lonely, or bored. Something I learnt how to do to help me feel
grateful and excited is to make everyday special. Instead of thinking that it
will be a long time before I can leave home again, I think about how I can make
my time at home memorable. Sometimes it is doing something that makes me look
forward to the day like planning a special game or activity. Other times, it is
dressing up. Even making a weekly menu with my family can turn a blah tuesday
into Taco Tuesday and something I look forward to. Last week, I planned to watch
a new movie at the same time as my sister who doesn’t live with me. I also had a
tea time with my best friends on a video chat. Maybe one of my favorite days
last week was when I finally finished my puzzle! I felt so proud! This week, I
am sharing with you some of the cool and weird “special days”. Feel free to do
some research to find out how these special days came to be. How can you make
everyday special? How does this help you to feel better and manage your time at
home? How can we honour everyday as Creator’s gift to us?

Thursday May 14 - Dance Like A Chicken Day!

Friday May 15 - National Chocolate Chip Day

Saturday May 16 - Wear Purple for Peace Day 

Sunday May 17 - Pack Rat Day

Monday May 18 - International Museum Day 

Tuesday May 19 -  World Plant a Vegetable Garden Day

Wednesday May 20 - Be a Millionaire Day

Thursday May 21 - National Waiter and Waitresses Day

This video really puts everything into perspective and makes me think how am I
going to make TODAY special, for me!

And if you like art, check out the daily draw below!

I LOVE art! What about you? Drawing, painting, coloring, sculpting, beading, and
crafting are all some of my favorite things to do. They help me to feel good and
to create beautiful things in my life. But, I was wondering WHY art makes me
feel good so I did a bit of research. Here is what I found out!

 * Art helps us to feel good because uncomfortable feelings are hard to say.
   When we do art, it is a way of organizing those uncomfortable feelings into
   something outside of us. If we can draw a picture about being angry when it
   is hard to talk about it, this will help us to let go of that angry feeling.

 * Art also helps us to focus, concentrate, and “get in the zone”.  Sometimes I
   focus so hard on coloring that I stick my tongue out without even noticing
   it. This is good for our minds and helps us to improve these skills that help
   us at other times, like doing mindfulness, meditation, or school learning.

 * The biggest thing about Art that makes us feel good though is that doing
   activities we enjoy is good for our mental health. It helps us to set aside
   some times to focus just on ourself and to check in with how we are doing in
   this world. Art is something that I enjoy and sometimes I get too busy to do.
   So whatever it is that you enjoy it is always important to keep doing it,
   especially when times get tough

I made this daily draw challenge to share with you. Feel free to get inspiration
from a word every day and to create art with it. You can also share it with us
through MESC mail or posting it on your school facebook page. Mrs Fehr has a
special video for you all about how to make paint when you don’t have it at
home! I can’t wait to try it out. Happy creating everybody!


PINAWEW PISIM ᐱᓇᐁᐧᐤ  ᐱᓯᒼ (MAY) 8. 



WHY WE LOVE PETS!

Here are some of the reasons pets can be so beneficial to our well being.

By: Bev, Sandi and Cassandra

Bev and Tiny

Why spending time with animals is beneficial for your health

Animals get you outside

Sun and fresh air both boost your mood, and the sunshine gives you a dose of
vitamin D. Horseback riding, walking a dog, or any outdoor activity that
involves being with animals is therapeutic.

Animals prevent you from feeling lonely

There is no better way to relieve a sense of loneliness then to interact with
animals on a regular basis. We develop relationships with our pets and animals.
When we talk to them, we feel as if they are listening to what we say. Animals
are a great source of much-needed therapy for anyone.

Animals can bring a smile to your face

You never know when an animal is going to do something extremely funny or cute.
This results in a smile or a laugh from you, raising serotonin or dopamine
levels, which results in calmness and happiness. Having a cat fall asleep in
your lap, or watching the squirrels in your backyard chasing each other around
can have a positive impact on your health.

Animals help you get more exercise

An astonishing number of people don't get enough, if any, exercise during the
day. Having a pet, or having a reason to interact with other animals results in
significantly more physical activity. 

https://www.chelonii.com/blogs/chelonii-blog/why-spending-time-with-animals-is-beneficial-for-your-health

Sandi and Jesse

Dogs (atimwak ᐊᑎᒼ ) are especially good at living in the moment and this makes
them very good at knowing how we are feeling. They can read us like a book. They
can teach us about ourselves. Dogs follow their instincts and can sense things
we may or may not be able to. I have been told that dogs can be sent to us as
protectors. I believe this is true. They share our joy and our burdens. For this
reason, showing kindness and respect to animals is important. 

“If we take good care of Dogs they will always be happy to see us. They have a
spiritual connection to us; they can sense how we are feeling and love us
unconditionally.”  --Judy Skeenum 

I encourage you to spend time with your pets; dogs, cats, horses or any other
animal you connect with. The more you can get outside with your pet the better.
Animals, fresh air and sunlight lift the spirit and strengthen body, mind and
heart.

A Cree story of how Dogs came to be our companions: 

The Dog Stars. A winter Story. Ask an Elder 

Ms.Cassandra and Diesel

Growing up I have always had furry friends around my home. Diesel has really
helped me when I am feeling lonely or missing my friends and family back home in
British Columbia. Dogs have a great way of sensing your emotions and comforting
you when needed... without you even telling them (SUPERDOGGOS)! Diesel and I
enjoy going for walks, playing fetch and cuddling up on the couch to watch a
movie.

“I have a theory, that you get the right dog, the dog that you need, for a
particular stage in your life.” - Meg Donohue

We Encourage you to share a picture with us and what you love about your PETS!

E-mail us at:

Cassandraomeasoo@maskwacised.ca

Beverlydikau@maskwacised.ca

Sandiheimer@maskwacised.ca 



AYIKÎPÎSIM ᐊᔨᑮᐲᓯᒼ 30 (APRIL 30, 2020)

Below are some ideas from our counsellors to help ourselves feel better in
different situations. As with anything, the more we practice, the better we get!
Give them a try! 


BREATHING TECHNIQUES

Here are a breathing few techniques to get you through any tough times that you
may have during this isolation.  Stay healthy!


FEELING FUNKY?

Some quick tips to help if you find yourself in a funk! It's easy to get into
bad habits when we are missing our routine and regular outings but a little
thing can make a big difference! Read some quotes that make you feel good, clean
up something in your room, or in your house, it helps to be in a clean space and
will give you a sense of accomplishment. Drink lots of water, it’s easy to reach
for sugary drinks but water is really important. Try a new breathing strategy,
there were a few in your wellness packages, and if you reach out to your
counsellors they can help you find a new one! Have a dance party inside, it’s a
good way to get moving and brighten up your day! Don't be afraid to try
something new or to reach out if you are in a funk, we are here to help!




KEEP BREATHING!

4-7-8 breathing can help when you are feeling stressed, anxious, or need help
getting to sleep. Anytime you try a new strategy it takes some practice to get
good at it. Since we all have some more time at home there is no better time
than now to practice! Breathing this way can help you calm down and put your lid
back on, move out of the red zone, and move back into that good thinking space.
You can count in your head to keep track of the seconds, or you can use a timer
to visually see the time pass while you breathe. Keep practicing, eventually it
becomes easy to use these strategies whenever you need!





APRIL 23, 2020

Our counsellors put together this video to let you know that we are still here
for each MESC student and family and that we miss you all! 


APRIL 16, 2020

Tansi Ohpikinahawasiwin ekwa awâsisak (parents/guardians and children)! This is
our first post to welcome you to the MESC counsellor's blog. We will post here
weekly, with everything from fun videos to strategies for mental health and
everything in between. We hope to mix a little info with a little fun as we all
work together to find our way in these new times. All of the school counsellors
are excited to connect with the young people from our schools in this way. We
also have our Fun Page, with purely fun/inspirational stuff that we will be
updating weekly as well, so check that out. Finally, we also have our Connect
with a Counsellor page for anyone who would like to have 1-1 contact with their
own school counsellor. It is not for crisis counselling but will put you in
touch with a counsellor for non-emergency purposes and ongoing support. Feel
free to use it if you are a student  and are having some tricky feelings that
you'd like some help with. Parents and/or guardians may also use this form to
connect their child with the counsellor from the school they attend.  




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