Mino Aki Giizghad - Earth Day April 22, 2025 - International Earth Day is celebrated by people all over the world through actions and events that remind us of the importance of protecting Mother Earth, nurturing growth of flora and fauna, planet sustainability, water and land stewardship, and being both accountable and respectful inhabitants for present and future generations. Here in Sagamok, Earth Day was widely celebrated, with people participating from every corner of the community!
A Community Cleanup took place in the morning. Some teams were comprised of staff, while others were friend groups and families. Everyone shared the same goal: pickup garbage to uncover the natural beauty of Sagamok’s landscape and promote responsible stewardship of the land. Susan Sonnenburg, Community Wellness Worker, greeted teams at the New Community Hall, and handed out the supplies needed: gloves, bags, and garbage grippers! Teams claimed a location in the community to focus their efforts, braving the chilly morning temperatures as well as the on-and-off misty rain that so often characterizes early spring. Miigwech to the following teams for participating in the community cleanup:
Departments (3): Claims and Negotiations (*winners of a catered lunch for the team); Lands, Resources and Environment, and Z’Gmok Enterprises Inc
Family/Friend Groups (11): Bernice Southwind (*winners of a RONA gift card), Tina Toulouse, Catherine Eshkakogan, Deanna Southwind, Tara Linklater, Corina Abitong, Marilyn Moore, Joyce Toulouse (*winners of an Ultimate Dining gift card), Trista Toulouse, Tana’s Lil Picker Uppers, and Bob’s!
Individuals (6): Margaret Toulouse, Bryan Assinewe, Leo Makadebin, Casey Abitong (*winner of a Poirier’s gift card), Jessica Southwind, and Cindy Owl.
The morning also saw Sagamok Education’s Daycare and Biidaaban staff and students participating in Earth Day through a collaborative effort between Sagamok’s Family and Community Support and Community Wellness Departments. Staff from both departments teamed up to develop and facilitate interactive, age-appropriate activities for Daycare friends and Biidaaban students. Daycare friends from both the toddler and pre-school classrooms, as well as Biidaaban students from Early Learning to Grade 3, had an opportunity to learn about what Earth Day means and why we celebrate it, as well as encouragement to think about how protecting the wellness of the Earth also protects the wellness of the self and brings balance.
Laura McMeekin-Clarke, Physical Wellness Worker, Toby Pickering, Family Support Worker, Darlene McNaughton, CWD Clinical Supervisor, and Raven Hammond, Children’s Mental Health Worker (ages 0-18), arrived at the Daycare to start the morning off. Toby and Laura attended each classroom at Daycare, offering a ‘Teddy Bear Picnic’ and sing-song action dance using their very captivating speaker with built-in disco lights. They danced/actioned out the various animals while the children mimicked their actions. “The earth consists of many different animal species each with their own distinct sounds and characteristics, so this was the emphasis of the Earth Day activities we were offering at a level appropriate to the understanding of the children,” Laura shared.
In the opposite classroom, Darlene and Raven offered kits containing pea seeds and planting materials. “Just like a plant needs care, we do too!” was the idea they were sprouting in the minds of the young children. They gave some examples of healthy things children can do for themselves -– get outside, get fresh air and sunshine, drink water, speak kindly to ourselves and others, offer care and attention -- as well as asking the children for ideas on healthy things they could do to care for their personal wellbeing and that of Mother Earth. Each student and staff were given an eco-friendly lunch box, loaded with healthy snacks, to support healthy methods of caring for self and Earth. Following that, the ‘crew’ headed to Biidaaban to offer similar activities to students in Early Learning to Grade 3. The Teddy Bear Picnic Lunch was offered to each of these grades and School Staff, which included the same eco-friendly lunch box, emblazoned with the Sagamok logo and containing ready-to-eat, healthy snacks like fruit, meat, cheese, and crackers. The pea seed sachets were offered to these grades with the same messages about caring for oneself and the Earth.
The morning ended with everyone gathered at Sagamok’s Greenhouses, located beside the Elders Eagle Lodge, for a groundbreaking ceremony. Laura offered a welcoming message, which was followed by a prayer and smudge provided by Wayne Southwind, Cultural Resource Worker, and finally, two songs by the Young Warriors on the drum. With the Grade 7 and 8 students included, this ceremony was a beautiful way to honour Mother Earth and signal the opening of the greenhouses for the season.
Then it was time to eat! Students walked over to the New Community Hall for a lunch of hamburgers, sausages, salads and dessert that had been catered for the senior students as well as participants from the morning’s Community Cleanup and everyone involved in organizing the day’s activities. By walking to and from the school, the greenhouses, and the NCH, students were given the opportunity to soak in a bit of nature along the way. With full bellies, students from Grades 4 to 8 made their way back to the Greenhouses to enjoy an afternoon of Earth Day activities. Stations included:
- Chevaun Toulouse, LRE’s Environment & Climate Change Coordinator hosted a table with bat houses, bat t-shirts, and assortment of ‘pollinator’ seed packages for students to choose and take home to plant
- A painting/crafting station headed up by Kara Abitong, Land-Based Learning Assistant, where students painted flowerpots or construct & decorate bird feeders
- Adam White and Angela LaChance, Greenhouse Lead and Technician, offered seedlings of tomato, pickling cucumber, and lettuce, as well as small tree seedlings along with potting soil, planter, and demonstration on how to transplant the seedlings with proper soil, fertilizer/compost agents, and care of the plant
- Discover the greenhouse and have the opportunity to job shadow what takes place here, and perhaps cultivate interest in this career path or summer job possibility
In addition to those workers named above for their specific Earth Day contributions, we’d like to give a special shoutout to Laura McMeekin-Clarke for her leadership – she was instrumental in ensuring the day ran smoothly for everyone; Michelle Toulouse for being the super-connector who brought together departments, resources, and businesses under one common goal; and Adam White and Angela LaChance for personally preparing dozens of plant seedlings and kickstarting the 2025 greenhouse season with a great day of workshops.
By coming together to celebrate Earth Day, Sagamok shows how powerful it can be for the community to work towards the shared goal of protecting the planet. It was a wonderful chance for people to learn, take action, and inspire each other to care for the environment. And it’s never too late to get started! If you missed the community cleanup, we encourage you to gather a few friends or family members to tackle a piece of your own neighbourhood or a shared space in the community. Be sure to wear high visibility gear if you’re near the road! Let’s remind each other to make everyday Earth Day.
