Marshwood Great Works School is taking steps to support our students' knowledge of Wabanaki people in a variety of ways.
One way is through the creation of a GWS land acknowledgment. A land acknowledgment is a formal statement that recognizes the Indigenous people who were the original stewards of the land where the acknowledgment is being presented. It is a way to demonstrate respect and gratitude for their historical and ongoing traditions that value our natural spaces.
4th-grade students Logan, Myloh, Gigi, and Emily collaborated to create a land acknowledgment of our very own and shared it with the school community on Indigenous Peoples Day. Students will also read it throughout the year during our morning announcements.
"We acknowledge that the land where Great Works School stands was, for thousands of years, the land of the Wabanaki, The People of the Dawn. The Wabanaki were the first stewards of this land and continue to protect our environment.Their love and respect for the natural world allows us to enjoy this beautiful place that we now call home.Here at Great Works School we’re building an appreciation of the natural world that surrounds us. We know that it is our responsibility to preserve and protect our outdoor spaces and help nature".
Another way GWS is teaching our students to appreciate Wabanaki culture was through a collaboration with a local Indigenous artist, Marissa Joly. Last spring, Ms. Joly engaged with students to discuss how her Wabanaki heritage inspires her creations. Over the summer, she completed an outdoor mural to enhance one of our GWS outdoor classrooms. Her mural integrates symbols important to the school, nature, and the Wabanaki culture.
This project was possible due to funds from a Maine Department of Education RREV Award,