Â鶹ÊÓƵ

What do you think of when you recall the welcome addresses given by your school principal? For many people, whether looking back over just a few years, or scanning decades to find the memory, the recollection is of a short welcome followed by a stern reminder of the rules - and the consequences of breaking them.

How different would it be to engage in a dynamic and positive ceremony, in which the mood was positive, the address encouraging, and the overall theme honour? Well, it's a whole different ballgame, and that's exactly what happened at the flag raising ceremony at the White Bear education complex at the start of school on Sept. 6.

Upon arrival, the visitor was greeted with the sight of the entire student body of the school, standing out in the beautiful sunshine. While the young people were happily chatting amongst themselves, their attention would fleet now and again to the three flag poles in front of the building. Beside the poles was a small group of adults, some of them members of the school staff, and others, the older ones, elders from White Bear First Nation.

After a while, the principal, Murray Bird, began to address the audience, and silence fell throughout the student body. There was no sense of overwhelming authority, no haughtiness in his manner or words, if anything, Bird sounded like a favourite uncle addressing his family. He had warmth in his tone, some humour in his words, but above all a sense of deep conviction on the things he was speaking about. He was a man who instantly commanded respect, while creating a rapport that made people like him.

He welcomed the students back, and introduced the members of his staff, giving them honour where he could, fully aware of their valuable contribution to the school. He then did something that people outside First Nations would be surprised at. He introduced the elders who were present, sharing how very vital they were to his work, and he then invited one of the elders to offer a prayer. The prayer was silent to most people, uttered softly and reverently. It asked for the well-being of the school, the keeping away of evil spirits, and the healing of all who were present. It was a deeply profound and spiritual moment, the kind of moment that causes goose bumps to rise because of its incredible reverence and depth.

The drummers were also invited to perform, if that is really the suitable word. In the course of the ceremony they encouraged the audience with two songs. The first was the flag song, sung in the Nakota language, it gave honour to the flags that were about to be raised. The second song was the victory song, honouring the warriors of their history, and sung for the people of today, people who dance for life and are thankful that they live on. Although the sounds and words were foreign to a "westerner's" ear, the significance of it was not lost. The deep heritage of first nation's people is being kept alive from generation to generation, this is a people who should never forget their past, and never fail to see who and what they can be in the future.

During the ceremony, Bird talked a lot about honour. He referred to the three flags and explained their significance. The Provincial flag was there to remind everyone of the treaties under which they live, and their connection with the greater community around them. There was no judgement in this reminder, just an exhortation for people inside and outside the reserve to live together in honour and harmony. The White Bear First Nation flag was being raised to bring honour to the immediate community, an encouragement to the students to remember they were part of the community. And the school flag was there to bring honour to everyone at the school, whether student, teacher, custodian or assistant.

Following the raising of the flags, Bird invited every student to form a line and come forward to shake hands with the elders, staff and himself. He reminded students that the elders were always there for them, to talk about any issue, to give advice in any situation. Then, one by one, whether very young or older, the students filed past the guests, and made the connection that brings forth a sense of belonging. Standing near Bird, it was a revelation to see his interaction with each student. "Good to see you back" he said to one young man, followed just as quickly with a smile and the words "And get a haircut!" He was taking time to relate to every student as a person, as an individual for whom he cared. It was light years from the cold practices of many schools.

After the ceremony, Bird sat with his elders in the "elder's room" and continued to give them great honour. "These people have forgotten more than I know yet" he said, and coming from him it was serious, not a glib phrase. He meant it. He explained that the school would not run without their guidance, that they were an essential part of the success of the school. Indeed, one of the elders had previously been round every classroom, warding off evil, seeking only good things for the students.

Later, the school counsellor, Sara McArthur, explained the significance of the Eagle Staff, a curved stick that had been present at the ceremony. "It represents our involvement with the community" she said. "It represents also our traditional territories and honours our cultural ways. It connects us with mother earth and the eagle nation." When asked, she explained the eagle nation is the body of spiritual intercessors that carries prayers to the creator.

Witnessing this ceremony is a profound experience. In a world where prayer has often been made illegal, or at least dropped in many schools, it is a wake-up call to just how much we might have lost by neglecting our traditions.

There was something uniquely spiritual in the ceremony, not just the raising of three flags, but the raising up of virtues that make good people into better people. Long after the ceremony was done, the chilling sound of the songs played in the mind, and the discussions of honour warmed the heart. Such moments burn something good onto the soul, and maybe that is the whole point. What an incredible way to start school.