Handprints from the Grade 4-5 class at GC Huston Huston decorated the Debewewin - Truth door, created by the school’s Bimaadzwin artists.

Hub Staff

Two doors created by the GC Huston Bimaadzwin artists were unveiled during the May 4 Spirit Assembly at the Southampton public school. Bimaadzwin is Ojibway for The Good Path and Debewewin - Truth, was the theme displayed for the Grade 4-5 classroom door while Niigaanzigig - Leadership was displayed on the Room 1 door; a room where great leadership skills are created.

GC Huston students’ learning has been centered around the Grandfather Teachings this school year, with the first door Minaadendmowin - Respect, being unveiled last November.

With colourful handprints covering the newly painted door, quotes about truth not only made their way onto the turtle’s back in the Debewewin depiction, but were also read aloud during the assembly.

Principal Dan Russell asked students to “take a moment next time you get some time when you're in the hallway to read some of the slogans having to do with the truth.”

Russell that the Niigaanzigig door was a bonus door. “Our Bimaadzwin artists decided that they need to recognize something that is included in all of the Grandfather Teachings, but they needed to recognize it separately because it’s so important to the Home of the Hawks,” said Russell.

The principal then updated the student body on the school’s Bimaadzwin Bridge project. Russell said that the naming of the bridge that joins Saugeen First Nation with Southampton now has the support of MPP for Huron-Bruce Lisa Thompson, the Bluewater District School Board, Saugeen First Nation Chief and Council and Saugeen Shores Council. Russell told the students that he hoped other local politicians would get behind the special project and wanted to see a “sea of blue and gold” on the bridge with community members joining the cause. “We are going to be able to name our bridge the Bimaadzwin Bridge, bringing our communities together as one family,” with Russell asking the students, “how special will that be?”

Southampton Rotarian Peter Day was then asked to come forward. Day reminisced about Rotary Winterama 2017 and thanked the Hawks for their “tremendous participation.” Day said that the students from GC Huston collectively raised over $4,000. “By far the most of any one of the 12 schools in the area that participated in Winterama and that is great,” said Day.

The Rotarian then presented Principal Russell with a cheque for over $3,000 from Winterama proceeds towards the school’s breakfast program and other projects. An additional $500 was given to GC Huston for having the most students participate.

The next door that will be unveiled by the Bimaadzwin artists will cover the Grandfather Teaching of honesty - Gwekwadiziwin.

The GC Huston Bimaadzwin artists unveiled two doors during the May 4 Spirit Assembly.

Debewewin - Truth, and Niigaanzigig - Leadership, are depicted on the newly unveiled doors created by the Bimaadzwin artists at GC Huston Public School May 4.

Grade 1 and 2 students present their truths to the student body during a May 4 Spirit Assembly and Bimaadzwin door unveiling.

Students in the 4-5 split class found truth quotes to display on their classroom door.

Peter Day of the Southampton Rotary Club presented two cheques equalling over $3,500 to GC Huston Principal Dan Russell for the school’s effort during Rotary’s Winterama event in February.