The other day at farm school, we started learning more about circular time, seasonality, solstices and equinoxes, and the thirteen moons of the W̱SÁNEĆ year. These circles are also great ways to explore natural cycles of growth, water, nutrients, life and death. Pronunciation of each moon is provided by these audio files. Here are some of the kids' calendars, based on these most excellent resources developed by School District 63's Indigenous Education Program, and also Briony Penn's beautiful Saanich Moon Mandala.
Then, we created a moon cycle calendar in the maple grove using rocks, which we danced around while calling out what each moon represents: frog, blossom, bullhead, camas, sockeye, pink, coho, chum, turning leaves, shaking leaves, put paddles away, elder, and child!
We also read the stories written by Dave Elliott Sr. in Saltwater People about seasonal activities related to each moon. Thank you Saanich Native Education for sharing with us!
Carl Olsen came over from the Tsartlip Reserve to share more cultural knowledge with two classes around the campfire at Bullock Lake Farm on Monday, March 6th, 2023. It was so great!
More connections with native plants & animals were made using these resources from Parks Canada and Saanich Native Education:
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