The Bison Project at Sunnyside School

IINÍÍ  

TATÂGA 

XANI-TII 

PASKWÂW MOSTOS 

BISON 

This project was created in the spirit of respect, honour and recognition of the traditional Indigenous peoples of the land upon which Sunnyside Elementary School resides and the traditional teachings of the Bison. 

We acknowledge that we are on Treaty 7 territory; the home and traditional lands to the Niitsitapi or Siksikaitsitapi, the Blackfoot Confederacy, that is comprised of the Kainai, Siksika and Piikani nations, treaty 7 is also home to the Tsuu T’ina nation, and the Îyârhe Nakoda, the Stoney Nakoda peoples, comprising of the Goodstoney, Chiniki and Bearspaw. We also recognize that Alberta is also home to Metis Region III. 

About the project:

The Bison Project is a 100% volunteer and community sponsored project that engages children to further their learning about the Indigenous peoples of this land, the Treaty 7 nations, and to understand the great importance of Bison not only as a food source but also as a teacher to the Indigenous prairie peoples.

Through the teachings of the Bison the children were given the opportunity to look at their local community through a different sense of place. They learned about local indigenous history, buffalo jumps, as well as the traditional teachings of the Bison including the teachings of HONESTY, TRUTH & RESPONSIBILITY.

Each classroom was given a supportive educational video created by Blank Page Studio’s Tiffany Harper, Cree name askîy maskihkiwiskwew, and artist/ founder daniel j kirk. Each child was given a wood cut bison to paint, explore their creativity and express the teachings that they learned.

The result is a colourful, meaningful and powerful installation created by the children along the school fence.

The Artists

daniel j kirk

Tiffany Harper

The Sponsors

Blank Page Studio

The Sunnyside School Council 

University of Calgary, School of Architecture Planning & Landscape  

Sunnyside Art Supplies

Sunnyside Natural Market  

Pages Books in Kensington 

Indian Express YYC Restaurant

Located in Calgary Alberta