Students and staff at Palliser Heights Elementary School hosted their own National Indigenous People's Day(NIPD) on Tuesday afternoon after their original plans fell through on Friday when some much-needed rain hit the area. 

"It was a celebration about First Nations people and culture and how they've had such an impact on our Treaty Four Territory today," explained Teacher and Co-Organizer, Vivian Gauvin. 

Her counterpart with putting the event together and also a teacher at Palliser Heights, Sharon Danylchuk, said hosting this ceremony was a must as their job is to share the Indigenous culture with their students and they believe that all children who attended were able to walk away knowing something new.

"As a school, as an educational community, we thought it was important in part of the calls to action, treaty teaching and educating students for their future. Recognizing this say was very important and significant, although it had to be moved due to weather conditions I think that the message has been taught, and I think that the children will take something away from it and have been changed by this day," said Danylchuk.

Part of the day saw students learning more about the report recently released on Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls. 

"We wanted to do our part and honour the 231 calls for justice, it's directed at everyone but let's be mindful that we have a part to play as an educator. As well we have a job

to do now that we know better we have to do better and bring that into the classroom. Since 2008 treaty education has been mandated in Saskatchewan, we may be the only province in Canada to have treaty education mandated," Gauvin added. 

To symbolize the lives lost or women and girls still missing students, staff and those presenting during the ceremony each took a piece of red ribbon and tied it around a spot in the chainlink fence that surrounds their heart garden at the school. 

Students and staff heard stories for local Metis and Indigenous people from the community, took part in traditional jigging, went over the meaning behind the Metis flag, learned various words from the Cree language, among other activities and lessons.

"We have learned about different languages and the acceptance of many cultures and just knowing that we were not the first people here was significant to me," Danylchuk noted.

To wrap up the NIPD, everyone from within the school went outside and held hands making a circle around Palliser Heights while listening to traditional music before getting to leave for the day.