Posted on 2026-05-06 20:09:23.731 +0000 UTC
On April 28 our Junior and Senior High Foods classes, along with Ms.Kolibabaโs 30-2 Social class got to partake in a meaningful Bison Harvest. Through the support of ๐๐๐๐โ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ง๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐๐ฆ and ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ง๐๐ง ๐๐๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐, ๐๐จ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ, this project continues to strengthen land-based learning, food sovereignty initiatives, and hands-on skill development for students, while also supporting the Division's hot lunch program.
Last school year, the ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง (๐๐๐) at Georges P. Vanier School applied for and received a $20,000 food sovereignty grant. Demonstrating thoughtful initiative, the YCR chose to use a portion of their funding to purchase a bison, creating an opportunity for another school to take part in this meaningful land-based learning experience. They also chose to share the resulting meat through the Division's hot lunch program, extending the benefits of this project to students across HPSD.
In the days leading up to the harvest, our classes participated in pre-teachings with Mrs.Blize, our Indigenous Education Coach, to better understand the cultural, historical, and spiritual importance of the bison. This helped ground the experience in respect, gratitude, and learning.
With the guidance of a knowledgeable butcher, Stephan Simard from Simard Butcher Co. in Fahler, our students then had the chance to participate in the hands-on process, learning how to properly and respectfully prepare the animal, while gaining valuable skills and a deeper appreciation for where our food comes from.
This was more than just a learning activity, it was a powerful opportunity to connect with Indigenous ways of knowing, to honour the life of the animal, and to bring learning beyond the classroom walls.
A heartfelt thank you to the GPV YCR group for their generosity and vision, Jamie Chalifoux for transporting the Bison to RMS and to our Indigenous coaches for their guidance, teachings, and continued support throughout this experience.
We are so grateful to everyone who helped make this possible.
