A project started last year has come full circle on National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21) at the St. Timothy High School.

It marked the completion of their Medicine Wheel Rock Garden, located in front of the school at 501 Sunset Dr.

Friar Joe and Elder Angela Young blessed the garden, and drummers and dancers performed before staff and students placed the rocks one-by-one within the garden's four sections.

The circle shape represents the interconnectivity of all aspects of one's being, including the connection with the natural world. Medicine wheels are frequently believed to be the circle of awareness of the individual self; the circle of knowledge that provides the power we each have over our own lives.

Last year, grade 12 student Makenna Myatt and her father picked all the rocks for the garden. They were then painted by students in the tradition medicine wheel colours of red, yellow, white and black on National Indigenous Peoples Day in 2022.

Now studying engineering at the University of Alberta, Myatt returned to emcee St. Tim's awards night but unfortunately unable to attend the ceremony due to a work commitment.

Angela Young spoke of how everything in life is within the circle, and how it is believed to bring healing to those who need it.

Angela Young

Young says she is a member of the first generation of Indigenous people who did not attend residential school, but her life was impacted by its ill-effects upon their culture.

She says they are a proud and resilient people with the wisdom, knowledge and strength to carry on.

"We are all within this circle and are welcomed from all four directions."

round dance st tims

"It's a demonstration of our work towards truth and reconciliation," explains St. Tim's principal Marilyn Nasse. "We all have to be a part of that, and so having it there is just a physical demonstration of that that the students can see every day, that the people of Cochrane can see every day, and that our neighbors to the west--lot of our students are from Stoney Nakoda--can see every day."

Among the other guests were Steve Petingola, Calgary School District area director, incoming St. Tim's principal David Gowan, and RCMP Cst. Nathan Moore.