Leadership students find a space on Yellowknife school's walls

Ten-year-old Arika Eisener of École St Joseph School spent two days painting "lots of people, flowers and hearts" as part of a school project that she said meant a lot to her.

Eisener is involved in the school's Dǫ Edàı̀zheh program, which helps students engage in activities that bolster their leadership skills.

Current and former staff say the program, first introduced more than a decade ago and recently re-established, is making a visible difference in the confidence of youth who take part.

In Eisener's words, she's "not much of a painter," though she found the process fun.

"It represents my family and how much I love them," she said of her artwork, which includes her sisters, mother and father.

"I spent a lot of time on it and took my time. First, we practised it by painting the background, then did the rocks, and then the trees, and then other things – which I liked about it."

Eisener's painting is one of 10 that were sized up, printed onto large canvas, and are now a formal installation hanging on the school's walls.

At an unveiling last week, assistant principal Michèle Thoms thanked Yellowknife resident Janet Pacey, who owns a graphic design store, for accommodating that final step.

Chance Gaudet, Linden Gaudet, Niah Krutko, Ava Grandjambe, Kaylee Abel, Aryn Eisener, Jase Pellissey, Aryana Brost and Penelope Majer are the other students who have their paintings hung.

"The kids actually didn't know that we had done this," Thoms said, addressing parents, students and staff members.

Facilitator ​Kristin Nowak said she invited Chipewyan Dene artist John Rombough to join the students for a two-day art class in April. Students got a chance to watch Rombough paint, then created their own interpretations based on his work – taking home the original canvases.

"He came and he worked with our students and shared with them not only his skills as an artist, but his story of being a Dene student in school and how that felt, how to pursue your gifts and talents," said Novak.

"He was wonderful with the kids. He recognized when they felt they had enough and when they wanted to put more into the art. The students painted and they showed their voice and expressed themselves.

"I hope that you see more than just beautiful paintings on the wall. Please also see that the students who were part of that workshop learned to remain calm and let go of their stresses and their worries and their anxiety moments. They learned to express their voice and they highlighted things that are important to them – the land, the family, the heavens, the ancestors."

Rombough, born in Northern Ontario's Sioux Lookout, began painting more than 20 years ago. According to a biography maintained by N.W.T. Arts, he was adopted out of the territory before moving back to Łútsël K'é to relearn his culture.

While Eisener aspires to become either a teacher or hairstylist, she said Rombough and his work inspired her to give painting a try.

"He started when he was little, like our age, and he grew up to be an artist. He sells some of his stuff and teaches other kids how to paint while he paints," she said.

Meanwhile, Selena Raddi-Kuiksak said she loves how colourful her classmates' paintings were.

In her free time, Raddi-Kuiksak enjoys creating variations of cartoon characters she watches on the YouTube channel The Land Of Boggs. Her most recent painting was meant to be a birthday gift for a close friend that incorporated "all of the things she loves."

Nine-year-old Audrey Pekelsky joined the program last year, at the same time as Eisener. Though she didn't paint this time, she said she would love to do so if Rombough comes back again. Her idea for a project is to represent Great Slave Lake, adding a sunset and some trees.

"I feel kind-of interested in the paintings. I think they're really cool and unique by how they look. I think maybe he could come back and do some more paintings with some other people," Pekelsky said.

Asked what she liked about Rombough's painting, she said: "I like how he had rocks and he added lots of colours into them and layers. I like how it was really colourful and how he would do his background and blend them together."

Aryn Eisener's favourite part about being in the program has been spending time with her teammates, going to camps and meeting students from different schools. Her painting, Connecting With The Stars, depicts her standing next to her father under a night sky.

"I just wanted to do it because I love painting. My dad used to draw so I thought maybe I'd start drawing too. So that's the painting of me and him. Since my mom passed, I made it for me and him connecting with her," she said.

Yellowknife Catholic Schools runs the Dǫ Edàı̀zheh program through Jordan's Principle funding. École St Joseph School has 20 students involved in the program, split into four groups.

Nowak said Grade 3-7 students take the lead on cultural activities and most of the program is on the land. Recent sessions included learning about traditional sports, sewing, making fish-scale art and cooking bannock.

Opportunities to go on the land are what pulled Sidney Dakota Liske to the program. He said he is interested in drumming, a skill he picked up once he had a drum he could put to use every day.

Retired superintendent Claudia Parker said the overarching program first ran roughly 15 years ago through an injection of federal funding. A similar program was already taking place in a school district in the United States, and staff members at St Joe's travelled there to learn more.

"When our funding ran out, we unfortunately could not fund the program without being funded from an outside group ... It was a big thing that we were losing and I'm so glad to see it back in the schools," Parker said.

"We've had many students over the years who have said they've made it through high school because of the Dǫ Edàı̀zheh program."

Parker said the program makes room for students who may have anxiety about speaking out or who missed an opportunity to show leadership.

"That's what's so great about the program. When you see Indigenous students that are involved in this program, and you see them finding their voice and being able to become confident in what they have to offer in becoming leaders," she said.

Kacey Marie Ongahak said going to the camps, which happens a couple of times annually, helps her connect with her culture. Eddie Raddi-Kuiksak said students have their own journals, where they jot down the events they experience.

"We get to learn other stuff that we can't really learn in the classroom, when we learnt how to make a fire or learn about different plants and how they grow," he said.

"It's also really nice to help out the other kids and Elders at the camps."

Aastha Sethi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cabin Radio