Friday

So truly honoured. We were the guests of honour at the fall feast today and it was magnificent. All of the students and staff ate a great feast of moose, turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, salad and dessert.

We played the news clip from CTV featuring the students of Downsview talking about Mikisew which was met with cheers from Mikisew students! They were so happy and honoured and thankful that money had been raised by many of you to get them a 3D printer, books and PPC. 

I can not express enough how truly welcomed we felt by everyone. This place will always hold a special wonderful place in our heart, one that we will not let go. We are looking forward to continuing to work together. 

There is such a mix of feelings as our last day at Mikisew comes to an end. There's still so much we want to do! The week went so fast we would love to stay longer. 

More students were in designing keychains. Evelyn will continue to print them next week. The keychains were all very different and wonderful! When one student made a "Randy Rhodes" keychain Ms. Prinn was in awe and said is that your name? He laughed and she said wow I thought you were named after Ozzy Osborne's guitar player. He was impressed I think. 

Judi and Monica have really made some wonderful connections with the PPC students and I know they will miss them dearly. Of course it is not over. Plans are also in the works to have them visit us in Toronto which would be so great! 

Garth was able to complete interviews in the morning and then show all of the videos that Downsview students created as well as the clips that Mikisew students 

created this week. Everyone at the feast was cheering! It was fantastic! The students did an amazing job capturing the beauty around them. 

Dancers put on an incredible show dancing in regalia to the live drum circle and singing of the Otter River Singers. We were also treated to the amazing jig of students and the local jigging group who were unbleievable! Their feet move so fast - it's really amazing to witness.

Elaine, Myrna and Anna honoured us with this wonderful afternoon showcasing tradition and even gave us wonderful gifts! We can't believe the overwhelming kindness and generosity. After the "feast" and showcase staff and students then shook our hands as they left the auditorium wishing us safe travel and thanking us for coming. We can not wait to see everyone again either in Toronto, online or back in Cross Lake. This is really truly the start of something that doesn't end here. 

There are plans for several students and staff to visit Toronto at the end of November and then again a bus load of students is set to be competing in the Indigenous games in July 2017. We know who we'll be cheering for! Go Cross Lake!!!

 

This evening we ate another feast at Greg and Betty Lou's house. What an amazing group of people! Elaine, Chloe and Ronnie joined us for a wonderful evening of food and friends. What a week! We will definitely need to start planning for their visit to Toronto. 

And Halloween is huge up here! Their house is the place to get the best candy and tricks in town! It's spooktacular!!! We all can not wait to be back - especially during Halloween!