Ceremony and Tradition

(Camera pans across open prairie at sunset, with title Ceremony and Tradition).

Leah Uffleman: Mornings rituals, I guess we did have rituals, some rituals that we did follow at school. First thing in the morning we did sing “O Canada”, and we saluted the flag and we said, “I salute the flag, the emblem of our country and said the Lord’s Prayer.

(Jean and Frank Schwengler shares memories at the Beiseker Golden Years Club)

Frank Schwengler: School picnics and we had Christmas concerts.

Jean Schwengler: and the highlight was the Christmas concert. Mostly when we were older, most plays, because we had to memorize and the younger ones just had maybe one or two lines, usually they got out and seen all the people and they were scared, so they run off the stage. But the whole school, she would line up on stage and she’d play the piano and we’d all sing different Christmas carols in between- it was a big thing.

(Matt Schmaltz shares memories at the Beiseker Golden Years Club)

Matt Schmaltz: Religion was a big thing in those years I guess and they did live in and around the religion and churches.

(Fred Lyczewski shares memories at the Beiseker Golden Years Club)

Fred Lyczewski: We’d go to church every Sunday. See that was another thing, we’d go to church and then you’d get to visit and see your neighbours and get together and used to go for dinner or whatever.

(Monty Metzger shares memories at the Beiseker Golden Years Club)

Monty Metzger: After church you’d visit somebody and ate their chicken or stole their chicken the night before and invite them for supper (Chuckles).

Matt Schmaltz:Lots of things happened through the church,  the fall suppers and ice cream socials and dances, so that was one of those things were people got together.

Fred Lyczewski: We said the “Our Father” and being Catholic it was a short version. One day I said to mom, “You know the others say the long version, and all around me was Protestant people.” And I remember Mom saying, “Well when you get to there, just stop and let the rest carry on.” And that’s what I did, we didn’t have no trouble with religion of that type.

Monty Metzger: And then every harvest when we had done everything they would have a big party. The town people would be invited, the garages and the elevator people would be invited, it was a fun time. Most times, it was at Art Berreth’s place, he had the biggest house, so we had it. His place was were we had the school picnics and stuff. Like our school picnics and Sunday school picnics. They had a big almost park like yard. That’s what I always wanted when I got my own place was to have a lawn and stuff, ‘cause we never had a lawn. Now I’ve got a big lawn and nice yard. Lots of Sunday events would be at their place, horseshoes and baseball games and softball.

(Adrian Wolfleg sits in the Niitsitapiisini: Our Way of Life Gallery in the Glenbow

Museum in front of a large tipi)

Adrian Wolfleg: I remember different things, like decorating classrooms for Halloween. I know lots of people would be really interested in different activities and different seasons, like Christmas pageants or tournaments or intramurals then looking forward to the springtime and track and field.

(John Richter shares memories at the Beiseker Golden Years Club)

Johnny Richter: I do remember there were track and field events and we competed with other schools. I was never a track star by any means.

Matt Schmaltz: I did win some ribbons, I wasn’t a bad runner I guess, but high jump I wasn’t…well, we tried.

John Richter: There were trackmeets and every year we went on a field trip to Banff, that was always something to look forward to- the end of the school year field trips.

(Vera Schmaltz shares memories at the Beiseker Golden Years Club)

At the end of the schoolyear, there would be a picnic and all the families would come and we’d have games and we’d have races, and ball games and tug o’ war, stuff like that. And everybody took part. Then we’d have a nice big lunch with lemonade and that would be the end of the schoolyear.