A small school here in Central Alberta wants to make sure their students learn about the technology of the future, but also stay connected to their roots, and to emphasize the importance of traditions to honor their Cree culture and heritage.

Ermineskin Elementary School offers classes for kindergarten to grade 6 for the children of Maskwacis, serving about 475 students with a quality music program, a full capacity library, and also offering Cree as a second language classes.

They hosted a round dance on Wednesday to honor all of their children and wish them well over their break, and as Principal Debbie Michael explains, coming together as a family and community is an important value.

“It is essential for them to have a strong sense of identity…one of the most fundamental values of Cree people… it's about kinship, and really coming together, relationships, creating that sense of unity, and that`s really what we were hoping to achieve today.”

Michael says it's essential for kids to have a strong sense of their cultural identity, because it’s been shown to have a direct correlation to confidence in themselves, and have success later on in life.