Kids from Strathmore learned a little bit more about First Nations and Siksika culture during the Indigenous Summer Program held at the Strathmore Municipal Library on Monday August 13.

The program, which got its start last year, was a fun day of stories, games and crafts hosted by two summer students from Siksika Nation, explained Rachel Dick-Hughes, director of library services for Strathmore Municipal Library. The program was facilitated by Tiahna Eagle Rib and Gwendora Old Woman. The program is geared towards kids aged five to 10 years.

“We are going to do some stories, games and make a dreamcatcher craft, and hopefully learn about specifically Siksika culture,” said Dick-Hughes.

“It’s fun and very activity based so I think that’s very relatable for children. They will just dive right in,” she said.

“We are making dream catchers today. We are teaching kids what we, as Blackfoot, Siksika Nation believe to be the origin,” said Gwendora Old Woman. “Dreamcatchers are used to take in the negative and the bad energy while you sleep and take your nightmares and give you good energy and good dreams,” she said.

During the program participants also read a book about dreamcatchers, one called 'Issac’s Dreamcatcher' and another called 'Grandmother’s Dreamcatcher'.

“It’s really awesome because we are able to incorporate our culture into the craft and into the story books that we picked out,” said Tiahna Eagle Rib. “The story book that we give to them, gives them a simplified version of what the origin is, what it is used for, and why is it good to have,” she explained.