After travelling to Spain in April this year, Mistassiniy School students had the chance to return the favour when their Spanish friends visited Alberta this August.

The visit was the second half of a cultural and musical exchange that began when Mistassiniy students travelled to Benavente, Spain from April 5 to 14.

This time, the Spanish group visited Alberta from Aug. 20 to 30.
Boyd Davies, Northland School Division music specialist, says the students had stayed connected through social media while they were apart and were excited to reunite in Alberta.

“We were excited to show them life and the culture in Canada,” says Davies.

The visiting group included 12 Spanish students and two adults. Six Mistassiniy students and three school staff members also participated.

Music once again played a major role in the exchange.

The group performed seven times while travelling through Alberta, with venues ranging from a Walmart parking lot and a private home in Calgary to West Edmonton Mall, and a small live music venue on Whyte Avenue.

They also performed at the Last Chance Saloon in Wayne, a riverside gazebo in Athabasca and the music room at Mistassiniy School.
But the visit was about more than performing.

The group spent part of the trip camping at Camp Wright on Narrow Lake.
Students learned about Cree traditions, including hunting, trapping, plants, medicines and crafts.

Davies says students also hiked through the woods, learned to identify animal tracks, and droppings and even tried moose calling.
Other Alberta experiences included Horseshoe Canyon and the Royal Tyrrell Museum.

“Many of our own students were first timers at many of our activities,” says Davies. “It was a great chance for them to learn about our province alongside our guests.”

Davies says the two sides of the exchange gave students opportunities to experience cultures that are very different from their own.
Mistassiniy students saw Spain’s centuries-old architecture, food, and language. Davies says this time, Spanish students experienced

Canada’s natural landscape and Cree culture.
The Spanish group has since returned home.

Davies hopes the relationships built during the exchange continue.

“We all have hundreds of shared experiences, photos, and videos that we can look back on,” he says.

Davies says he also expects exchanges between the two communities to continue in the coming years.

Julia Magsombol
Lakeside Leader