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PHOTO FEATURE: Culture displayed front and centre

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Brett McGarry / NNSL photo Jeremy Moyo did his presentation on the Indigenous peoples of Zimbabwe, where his parents are from. Moyo, a Grade 8 student at Chief Albert Wright school in Tulita, said he's been able to visit and enjoyed seeing the cultural and lifestyle differences between there and Canada.

A robust display of NWT culture went on display for the annual Territorial Heritage Fair on May 24.

Twenty-three students from across the territory converged on Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre to present to judges for a chance to take home the top prize.

Jeremy Moyo did his presentation on the Indigenous peoples of Zimbabwe, where his parents are from. Moyo, a Grade 8 student at Chief Albert Wright school in Tulita, said he's been able to visit and enjoyed seeing the cultural and lifestyle differences between there and Canada.
Brett McGarry / NNSL photo

Margarat Thom, commissioner of the NWT, held a ceremony on May 24 to officially declare the territorial showcase officially open.

Students from outside of Yellowknife are being housed in William MacDonald School, where they get to spend their time socializing with and learning from other students from across the territory.

"It's part of our mandate to foster the youth of the North making connections," said fair organizer and teacher at William MacDonald School, Monique Marnier.
"They're building connections, there are all kind of games and ice breakers. They socialize, break bread together, do all kind of cultural activities as well."

Shaylene Shae, Grade 9 from Tsiigehtchic, researched and presented on how climate change is affecting hunting and trapping practices in her home community of Tsiigehtchic. Shae researched various methods of hunting and trapping that are prominent in her community and interviewed MLA Sonny Blake.
Brett McGarry / NNSL photo

Students had the opportunity to tour the Prince of Wales museum and the Legislative Assembly, had a picnic at Somba K'e Civic Plaza and a birch-tapping demonstration off Ingraham Trail.

Marnier also sent a heartfelt thanks to the museum for hosting and Mike Mitchell for his work assisting the fair.

Winners were to be announced May 24.

 

Trey Son's presentation, Tlicho Lost and Found, is a month long project of surveying members of his community of Edzo on the importance of religion, Tlicho culture and language. Son, a Grade 7 student at Chief Jimmy Bruneau school, categorized the answers to his survey by age groups and compared results. Son said the project peaked his interest in learning more about Tlicho culture.
Brett McGarry / NNSL photo

 

This was the fifth territorial heritage fair Garra Dryneck of Whati was able to participate in, telling the story of the famous Tlicho leaders, including Chief Jimmy Bruneau. Dryneck, from Mezi Community School in Whati, said Bruneau was a visionary leader who governed his people through tough times. Dryneck says is most inspired by Elizabeth Mackenzie, who translated the New Testament into Tlicho.
Brett McGarry / NNSL photo
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Brett McGarry / NNSL photo Shaylene Shae, Grade 9 from Tsiigehtchic, researched and presented on how climate change is affecting hunting and trapping practices in her home community of Tsiigehtchic. Shae researched various methods of hunting and trapping that are prominent in her community and interviewed MLA Sonny Blake.
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Brett McGarry / NNSL photo Being inspired by leaders in the women's suffrage movement in West Canada, Grade 6 student from William MacDonald, Annabella Churchill did her research project on Nellie McClung and the famous five. Churchill said she was inspired after a visiting Nellie McClung house in Calgary. After winning first place in the Yellowknife fair, she said she was very excited to be able to reach the territorial showcase.
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Brett McGarry / NNSL photo After having the opportunity to travel the Arctic Red River in her home community of Tsiigehtchic, Dayle Cole from Chief Paul Niditchie School, did her project on the Tlicho lifestyle on the river. The They would travel up and and down the river each year in birch wood canoes, stopping at various established camps. She said really enjoyed learning about local cultural and learning from elders while taking the same trip herself.
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Brett McGarry / NNSL photo With a strong desire to be an engineer working for SpaceX, Grade 8 William MacDonald student Madi Mobach researched Canada's contributions to space exploration. Mobach said she was inspired by SpaceX creating reusable rockets to cut down on environmental waste and space junk. Grade 8, William MacDonald, Yellowknife
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Brett McGarry / NNSL photo Trey Son's presentation, Tlicho Lost and Found, is a month long project of surveying members of his community of Edzo on the importance of religion, Tlicho culture and language. Son, a Grade 7 student at Chief Jimmy Bruneau school, categorized the answers to his survey by age groups and compared results. Son said the project peaked his interest in learning more about Tlicho culture.