The Indigenous Christmas Tree displayed in Vanderhoof's McDonalds

By Tommy Osborne

Indigenous Christmas

Prince George isn’t the only community with an Indigenous Christmas Tree

Dec 12, 2023 | 5:10 PM

VANDERHOOF – Last week the Prince George Native Friendship Centre unveiled its first ever Indigenous themed Christmas Tree, but it’s not the only community in Northern B.C sporting an Indigenous tree.

WL McLeod Elementary School in Vanderhoof is celebrating its second year with an Indigenous Christmas Tree, which they display in the local McDonalds. Ruth Johnny, the school’s Aboriginal Advocate and Dease River First Nations Band Member, explained the ornaments are all made by students and she says it’s a fantastic way to teach Indigenous culture and history in a fun, unique way.

“We make sure we include a story that goes with each item that we’re making, how it connects to the culture of Saik’uz First Nations in their territory here. A lot of them have gained a lot of knowledge and are really excited about some of the things that they’re learning. Most of the kids were just so happy, they’re like, ‘can we make more so that we can bring them home to our trees?'” Johnny said.

The ornaments represent various important aspects of Indigenous culture, including but not limited to:

• Animal hides
• Teepees
• Canoes
• Ceremonial drums
• Moccasins
• Birch bark

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“It’s vital for them to be introduced to these different items that we use, like the birch bark. We tell them the story behind the birch bark, how the First Nations used to use birch bark. They would cook in it and they would also use it for storing and they’d make big baskets,” Johnny said.

While making the ornaments and seeing your work displayed is definitely exciting for the students, WL McLeod’s Vice Principal Candace Lawrence explained it’s about more than just a fun arts project.

“I think it really just comes down to reconciliation and bringing local Indigenous culture into our schools and helping that to be really an everyday thing, not just a thing that we’re doing during the holidays. That’s part of their learning and also just an appreciation for the culture, for one another, for diversity,” Lawrence said.

The Indigenous Christmas Tree is one of several ways WL McLeod gets the school involved in Indigenous History. Johnny, Lawrence, and Saik’uz First Nation Frog Clan’s Aboriginal Advocate Molly Harper have found other ways to involve arts and crafts as a teaching tool. For example, last year featured a lot of orange in creating orange shirts for Every Child Matters, among other projects.

“We’re working on just sharing Indigenous culture through some crafts and spreading the word about reconciliation,” Lawrence said.