Exshaw School - Exshaw

Exshaw School ensures that our students are learning about the Stoney Nakoda Culture through Elders and Morley community partners. This program is supported by The Banff Community Foundation. Some of the incredible experiences our students have enjoyed are learning about Morley artist Roland Rollinmud's historical mural at the Banff Cave and Basin, and learning about the cultural importance of this site.

Students have also learned about trapping, trap-making, and living off the land both years ago, and now. This program also allows students to express themselves through exploring different types of art under Roland's direction. Smudging, story-telling, and important discussions about regalia, celebrations, the Bearspaw, Chiniki, and Wesley Bands, political and community discussion are also important for our students. This program allows Stoney students a chance to interact with an Elder from their community in the Stoney language, and will include students learning how to make traditional drums, traditional beadwork, as well as learning the basics of carving. This program also linked out junior high students with leadership programming at The Banff Centre which allowed students to learn about communication, working together, and finding their own personal gifts. It also allowed some of our students a chance to meet with Indigenous Leaders from across the world and encourage them to become leaders within their own nation!