A Tipi was given last month to the Arcola School, and has subsequently been raised twice, by the Pheasant Rump Nakota First Nation.

"Chief Ira MacArthur and the Councillor Juanita MacArthur Big Eagle, they planned to do that Tipi raising at Arcola School as a way to promote positive partnership between Arcola School and Pheasant Rump Nakota First Nation, so they wanted to give Arcola School the gift of a Tipi to represent the education relationship and unity between the two communities," shared Raquel Oberkirsch, Instructional Coach for Indigenous and Treaty Education with the Southeast Cornerstone Public School Division.

She said this is largely due to the large percentage of Indigenous students at their school.

"Pheasant Rump has 38 students registered at Arcola School this year from grades 5 to 12, and from our side of it with the school division, we feel it's really important that all students see themselves and their culture is positively represented at school, so that's kind of why Arcola school was chosen as the location for it, and the reason why they chose to give it as a gift there."

With the first Tipi raising held in mid-September, a second one was held just last Thursday, on the first official National Day for Truth and Reconcilliation in Canada. Oberkirsch said while it is a spectator role for the students for now, the education component could expand.

"I think that's something we'll look at later in the school year, is having some of the older groups of students maybe learning how the polls have to go up and what maybe the teachings are behind the different polls and all the stuff that goes into it, but I think for these two events it was more of a demonstration and for the kids to just observe and watch in that way."

"We are just really committed to building these positive and strong relationships between Southeast Cornerstone Schools and the local Nations, so including White Bear, Pheasant Rump and Ocean Man First Nations, and we are just so grateful to Pheasant First Nation for doing this Tipi raising for this gift and for just the opportunity for our whole school to work in partnership with Pheasant Rump First Nation."