Spelling Bee winners off to national competition
- Renee Hopper | April 11, 2016
Together, Monetary, and Millipede are the three reasons why three First Nations students will be competing in the Canadian National spelling bee a month from now.
The first ever First Nations provincial spelling bee was hosted on Friday April 8th at the Don Ross centre in North Battleford.
“We are making history here,” said Pauline Favel, the coordinator for the event. She also explained “This is more than just a spelling bee,” this unites communities, builds social and study skills, as well as reading and writing comprehension. It’s also really good for their confidence and public speaking skills.
The students can be tested on over 400 words during the competition, so studying took a lot of commitment from them, as well as their parents. Parental involvement is key, Favel said with certainty.
The opportunity for students to travel is another great experience for these kids. Students from the White Bear Education Centre, which is an hour from the American border, traveled to North Battleford, some for the first time. The schools involved really worked hard, and had to really want to be involved said Favel.
An event of this scale takes a lot of organizing, fund raising and endorsement from many people. Favel wanted to express her gratitude to all of the schools, parents and sponsors. She notably mentioned SIGA, the title sponsor who “guided and supported me”, as well as the five other Poundmaker School Committee members: Deena Paules, Nicole Jordan, Marlene Chickeness, Priscilla Moyah and Chaz Albert.
There have been provincial spelling bees before, said Favel but the First Nations representation was low. This will be the first time an all First Nations team will go to Nationals.
Ultimately for Favel, seeing the kids getting excited about the bee, motivated her to make this a reality.
Brittany Bugler, the second place winner of the junior competition from Onion Lake, was feeling overcome with joy, and happy for her good friend Makayla Cannepotato, also from Onion Lake, for taking first place.
Once her nerves settled, Ashley Bugler expressed a sense of pride, knowing that her daughter had been part of the first ever event like this.
And, as second Vice-Chief Bob Merasty said in the opening remarks, “education is our buffalo.”
Click here to view First Nations Provincial Spelling Bee photo library...