TAG Day!

TAG Day (AKA: Traditional Aboriginal Games Day) is an annual event in Winnipeg that brings together High School Mentors from throughout the city to celebrate all the hard work and dedication they have put into their IYMP programs over the school year. Here is what a few IYMP team members have to say about the celebration:

Written by Keatton Tiernan, IYMP member and research partner from the University of Alberta; Lisa Spence, Regional Coordinator in Winnipeg; and Marianne Okemow, Program Leader and Youth Advisory Circle Member in Winnipeg.

Lisa Spence is a Regional Coordinator based in Winnipeg and had this to say about TAG Day:

The Traditional Aboriginal Games Day has always been an exciting event! It’s an excellent opportunity to recognize and celebrate the youth participating in the program throughout the year. We wanted to show our appreciation for their commitment and hard work.

We aimed to ensure they have a fun-filled day, starting with an opening circle and smudge ceremony. We encouraged them to play games with students from other schools, make new friends, enjoy a delicious lunch, and take a tour of the University of Manitoba campus.

In addition to all the fun, we gave each participant a certificate, acknowledging their dedication to the programming. It was truly a memorable day for everyone involved!

Marianne (Youth Advisory Circle Member and Program Leader)

Marianne has been a part of IYMP for eight years, seven as a Program Leader and one as a High School Mentor, and has been to all but one TAG Day. Here’s what Marianne has to say about TAG Day:

What I love about TAG Day is that all the schools [that] I didn’t get to teach at during the school year get to be there, and I can meet them finally, and it feels like a very happy place to be because we all chose this program to be apart of and stuck with it till the end! I also love seeing my students from the schools I teach at meet other students [who] love and enjoy this program as much as them, and they make new friendships and connections! All the students get to see this big family be together to have fun and make memories!

Are you interested in running a Traditional Aboriginal Games (TAG) day in your community? Contact the IYMP National Director Teena Starlight (teena@everactive.org) to learn about TAG day and how to get started!