Jasper Jr./Sr. High School students were treated to something a little bit different in art class last week when Joe Giroux came to teach the ancient art of soap stone carving. 

Originally from Drift Pile and now living in Wabamun, Giroux has been teaching a range of native culture and arts for 18 years and with Grande Yellowhead Regional Division for the last five years.

Giroux said he hopes the kids learn more than just about the art during his classes and said that often it teaches them about the importance of patience as well as about the art.

“I wanted to teach the children about an art that’s lacking in schools,” he said. “[But] often they learn more about patience.”

Giroux, who asks students to call him Joe so that he is on the same level as them, said the classes often “bring students together” as well by knocking down social circles.

The material the students use is a Brazillian soap stone which they carve into shapes and statues that they’ve drawn up.

Giroux may assist them with an electric saw to hasten the process, so that all students have something to take home at the end of the day, but they must still meticulously sand and polish their artwork before it is glazed and ready to take home.