On Tuesday, September 29, St. Teresa of Calcutta School received a meaningful gift, one that will become part of the school’s identity for years to come.
During a special naming ceremony, Elder Andrew Black Plume gifted the school its Blackfoot name: Naatowa’paakii Iitaissksinima’tstohkio’p, meaning “Holy Woman School.”
The ceremony was a celebration of culture, community and connection, as two elementary schools received Blackfoot names from Elder Andrew Black Plume. St. Paul School was also gifted the name Naatowapinna Iitaissksinima’tstohkio’p, meaning “Holy Man School.”
For St. Teresa, the new name carries a particular significance, connecting the school’s Catholic identity with the Blackfoot culture and traditions of the community in which it is rooted.
Fran Calf Robe shared that the name for St. Teresa came to Elder Andrew Black Plume in a vision. The act of gifting a name, Elder Andrew explained, is much more than simply giving something a new title, it is a blessing. “Giving a name is like saying a prayer,” Elder Black Plume explained. “When a name is gifted, you give that person or school a blessing, like sprinkling holy water, making it stronger.”
Traditionally, he shared, a blessing can also serve as a form of protection, a way of helping someone return home safely and placing a shield around them.
For the school community, the ceremony offered an opportunity to reflect on what it means to receive such a gift and the responsibility that comes with carrying a name.
Elder Andrew Black Plume described the naming ceremony as symbolic of “sharing our culture.” Through the gifting of these names, students, and staff were invited to learn more about Blackfoot culture and the traditions that have long connected people to the land and the natural world.
Elder Black Plume proudly shared that Blackfoot people are nature people, and that names are often intertwined and interwoven with the nature that surrounds them. A name can therefore carry layers of meaning and connection, linking people, places, culture, and the world around them.
St. Teresa Principal Mrs. Patti Pilsner expressed her appreciation for the community members who helped make the naming ceremony possible, recognizing its significance in bringing people together. “Our Blackfoot naming ceremony brought together students, staff, trustees, and local leaders in a shared circle of honour and respect, weaving St.Teresa School with the rich cultural traditions and spiritual heritage of the indigenous community. I am grateful for the people that came together to make this happen, especially Elder Black Plume and Fran Calf Robe.”
The significance of the gifted name also resonated with Superintendent, Mrs. Chantel Axani who reflected on the honour of receiving it and the values it represents. The name, she shared, serves as a reminder of the importance of faith, humility, compassion and the ongoing commitment to truth and reconciliation.
“It is a profound honour to participate in the St. Teresa of Calcutta naming ceremony and to be gifted the Blackfoot name Naatowa’paakii Iitaissksinima’tstohkio’p (Holy Woman School). Receiving this sacred name is both a humbling gift and a deeply meaningful blessing. Saint Teresa of Calcutta lived a life of unwavering faith, radical compassion and selfless service. As Superintendent, I hold this name with immense gratitude and reverence. It serves as a continuous call to walk humbly, lead with love, and deepen our shared commitment to truth, reconciliation and Catholic education across our division.”
The name Naatowa’paakii Iitaissksinima’tstohkio’p will now be part of St. Teresa of Calcutta School’s story, a name gifted with intention, prayer, and blessing.
As students and staff continue to learn and grow together, the name serves as a reminder of the importance of honouring the cultures and traditions of the land and community around them.
For St. Teresa, becoming Naatowa’paakii Iitaissksinima’tstohkio’p, Holy Woman School is not simply about receiving a Blackfoot name. It is about receiving a blessing, sharing in culture and carrying forward a meaningful connection between faith, community, and place.