Spotlight64 | Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration: A Blessing for Fulford’s Welcome Pole

Students and community partners come together to honour local Indigenous teachings, language, and relationships

On June 17, Fulford Community Elementary School hosted a beautiful Indigenous Peoples Day gathering, bringing together students, staff, families, and community partners in a spirit of gratitude, learning, and respect. The focus of the day: blessing the school’s new welcome pole.

The whole-school event welcomed students from Salt Spring Elementary, Fernwood Elementary, and Gulf Islands Secondary School. Those among the guest list included trustees, Indigenous Education Council member Jeanine Cooper (Tsartlip First Nation), and Stqeeye’ Learning Society partners Maiya Modeste, Tyee Joseph, Brianna Thorne, and Makayla Joe-George. The gathering also included student guests Kingston, Lola, and Romeo each of whom held a meaningful role in the day’s ceremony. 

The gathering opened in a good way, with Maiya welcoming guests and introducing herself through her culture and family history, before providing an overview of the ceremony. She then invited Kingston, a student from W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Secondary School, to offer prayer. Kingston shared an eloquent prayer in SENĆOŦEN, the language of his Nation’s people, further grounding the gathering in deep cultural respect.

The ceremony reflected the importance of sacred knowledge and the responsibility of those observing. As part of the tradition, witnesses were selected and paid in coin for the solemn task of carrying the memory of the day forward so that future generations may learn and remember.

Romeo, a grade 8 student from Gulf Islands Secondary School, provided a thoughtful territorial acknowledgement, honouring his family and Chickasaw First Nation ancestry through words of respect and gratitude. Offered with sincerity and care, Romeo’s acknowledgement encouraged those gathered to reflect on their responsibilities to the land and to the Peoples who have always cared for it.

The assembly centred around the newly erected pole on the north-facing side of Fulford school. Years in the making and shaped by many hands, the carving was led by District Indigenous Artist Quentin Harris. Now standing prominently where all can see it upon arrival at the school, the welcome pole is a powerful expression of belonging and connection to place.

Quentin shared the story of the pole’s creation and the significance of each animal represented: Eagle at the top who soars the skies, the hummingbird carried beneath Eagle’s wings, the humpback who travels through our local water, and mother Bear holding strong at the base while protecting her cubs above her. Quentin took time to honour the memory of loved ones, whose hands and hearts contributed to the work. 

With song, drum, and sweet cedar boughs swept over the pole, the blessing unfolded with reverence and care. Some of the District’s youngest learners joined in. The Salt Spring Elementary Kindergarten class sang the Huy ch q’u song while beating drums of their own. One by one, participants brushed the pole with cedar boughs to purify the space and cleanse the pole of negative energy so it could receive the blessing. The moment was filled with gratitude, intention, and connection to the land and to each other.

Maiya reminded those gathered that students are our “speq’um”, our flowers and greatest gifts, who will grow strong and bloom. They “bring good energy and good medicine into the pole”, the blessing, and to the spirit of the day. Ceremony is an intentional form of teaching - one that honours relationships, and carrying knowledge across generations. The blessing of the welcome pole offered students and community members an opportunity to witness culture in action, deepening understanding of the responsibilities that come with listening, learning, and remembering.

The ceremony closed in circle on the school field with Kingston’s drum and song accompanying Lola Rosborough, a Kwakiutl’ First Nation student from Gulf Islands Secondary School, as she danced across the grass in full regalia.

Together, the community commemorated the day through movement, music, tradition, and shared reflection before gathering for snacks and gifts. Refreshing watermelon was enjoyed by all under warm sunshine, another reminder of the blessings of the day.

With gratitude to Fulford School and all of the students, staff, and community partners who participated, the gathering offered a powerful celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day and a meaningful honouring of local Indigenous practices, language, teachings, and relationships.

The day was made possible through the thoughtful leadership of Principal Kaz Lundgren, Indigenous Education Principal Lorna Fraser, the Stqeeye’ Learning Society team, and the many others behind the scenes who worked with care and dedication to support the event. This author felt privileged to be part of such a meaningful day, even in a small way – huy tseep q'u.