Students from Teslin, Yukon win opportunity of a lifetime to discover Parks Canada's places in Manitoba this summer
April 10, 2019 Ottawa, ON Parks Canada Agency
Today, Parks Canada's Honourary Guide for Families, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, announced that the grade 5, 6 and 7 class from Khàtìnas.àxh Community School in Teslin, Yukon, won this year's edition of Canada's Coolest School Trip. To enter, classes from across Canada submitted a photo essay about a stewardship activity that they participated in which contributed to the protection of the local environment or the presentation of local history and culture.
The winning class submitted a photo essay about a website that they built to share the local traditions of Tlingit culture with the world, such as the button blanket activity. By sharing the valuable cultural traditions and languages that their elders teach them, the class is able to engage with the community through technology and share their history through social media. "Engaging in our local traditions through Tlingit culture allows us to ignite our passion of learning about our aboriginal people." - Grade 5, 6 and 7 class from Khàtìnas.àxh Community School.
This year's winning class will have the opportunity to discover nature and connect with history at Parks Canada's places in Manitoba. Students will discover Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site, visit Riel House National Historic Site and hear tales of Louis Riel's life, check out "the heart of the continent": the Forks National Historic Site, and camp out under the stars in Riding Mountain National Park.
Parks Canada is committed to a system of national heritage places that honours the contributions of Indigenous peoples, their histories and cultures, as well as the special relationship Indigenous peoples have with traditional lands and waters. Working together with more than 300 Indigenous communities across Canada, Parks Canada and Indigenous peoples are partners in conserving, restoring, and presenting Canada's natural and cultural heritage. Canadians are invited to visit Parks Canada's places to learn about Indigenous cultures, traditions, and customs. In doing so, we can create new opportunities for Canadians to better understand the cultures and histories of Indigenous peoples in Canada.
Parks Canada would like to thank all the students and teachers from across the country who took the time and effort to enter this year's contest and make an important contribution to their community. The Government of Canada is pleased to continue to offer free admission to all Parks Canada's places for youth aged 17 and under. By encouraging young people to discover nature and connect with history, we can help to inspire the next generation of stewards for these protected places.
