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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
A curiosity about why he gets $5 every year on Treaty Day inspired a project by Teagan Zoe-Hardisty.

Sage Fabre-Dimsdale's project on hunting with snares won him first place in the Grade 4 division at Bompas Elementary School's Heritage Fair on March 14. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Zoe-Hardisty, 10, was one of the students at Bompas Elementary School in Fort Simpson who participated in the school's Heritage Fair. Standing beside his project on Treaty 11 in the school's gym on March 14, Zoe-Hardisty eagerly explained the treaty was signed on July 11, 1921. There are two versions of the treaty, including an oral version upheld by the Dene and a written version used by the Crown.

"The written version is completely different," he said.

The elders say the agreement was a peace and friendship treaty and wasn't for the land, said Zoe-Hardisty. According to the oral version, the government also promised to build houses at any location chosen by the Dene.

Zoe-Hardisty said in his research he learned the treaty was signed where the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' office is currently located in Fort Simpson and that his maternal great-great-grandfather was four years old when the treaty was signed. Zoe-Hardisty was awarded first place in Grade 5 for his project.

Personal connection

The Heritage Fair is primarily about fostering students' connection with their heritage, said Nancy Noseworthy, the school's principal.

Noseworthy said students who don't normally engage in projects often get involved in the Heritage Fair because of that element of personal connection, which also inspires families to come together and help the students.

Each student in the school was encouraged to participate in the fair and students in Classes 1 to 3 did group projects.

Every student presented their project to a judge because the event is also about building public presentation skills, said Noseworthy.

"I'm pleased with the quality of the projects," she said.

Sage Fabre-Dimsdale, 9, had a particularly strong connection with his project.

Fabre-Dimsdale chose to learn about hunting with snares because many of his family members still use snares. Fabre-Dimsdale learned about a variety of snares including jerk-up, rabbit, squirrel and caribou snares.

"I like using the rabbit snare because it's simple and doesn't take much material," he said.

Fabre-Dimsdale, who included pictures of himself setting up snares in his project, snared his first rabbit at age 8. So far he hasn't been successful this year.

"I'm hoping to catch some before spring comes," he said.

Fabre-Dimsdale took first place in the Grade 4 division followed by Ocean Stubbert in second and Ariel Hardisty-Gillis and Tanisha Kelly-Harris tied in third. In Grade 5, Akhildas Damodharan took second and Zehro'h Catholique-Waugh took third.

For Grade 6, first place went to Meegwun Cazon followed by Lia Fabre-Dimsdale and Newmoon Buggins.

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