Students and staff listen to Lewis Cardinal speak in the school gym.
Lewis Cardinal visited Inner City High School last week and spoke to an all-school assembly in the gym. Lewis is Woodland Cree from the Sucker Creek Cree First Nation in Treaty No. 8 and has had a long connection with us. In our early days, he was instrumental in assisting the school develop and progress at a time when it was at a crossroads.
From that experience, he shares a friendship with Joe Cloutier, one of our founders and our Director of Education. Lewis also grew up in the inner city not far from Inner City High. Like Joe, Lewis has dedicated his life’s work to creating and maintaining connections and relationships that cross cultural divides. Lewis's professional work has mirrored his personal vision of a socially just and responsive society. Currently, Lewis is Senior Advisor for the Indigenous Knowledge and Wisdom Centre and “kihcihkaw askî–Sacred Land” in Edmonton. It is Canada’s first urban Indigenous ceremony grounds.
He spoke to students and staff about his remarkable life, his learnings, and his beliefs.
We were grateful for having him visit and share his time and words with us.
Joe Cloutier (Left) and Lewis Cardinal at Inner City High School on February 19, 2025.