Indigenous education, teaching truths and committing to reconciliation is woven into the every-day curriculum and culture at the Upper Canada District School Board. Today, students and staff showcased interactive community displays and stunning artwork, held outdoor ceremonies, planted heart gardens, and so much more, all to commemorate the first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. Here are a few examples of how our students, staff and community came together:
iLead Student Representative Fisher Horn and UCDSB Indigenous Educator Bill Montgomery outline the significance for today:
UCDSB Partners up for Community Education Event in Brockville
Students at both Gananoque Secondary School and Thousand Islands Secondary School reviewed the 94 recommendations of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission in their classes. They then set up a walk-through exhibition in Brockville’s Hardy Park, where community members were invited to read and learn more about these Calls to Actions. The UCDSB partnered with a planning committee for this event which integrated the theme of “Kanona’kwa,” the Haudenosaunee word for “Community.” The event included elders attending, drummers were on site and there was a ceremony circle as well.
Seaway District High School Students Create Path to Truth and Reconciliation
Seaway District High School students started the process to create a path to Truth and Reconciliation on the school grounds. With students designing individual artwork on stones, the project will ultimately see the creation of a path using the stones. The initiative occurred thanks to the Iroquois school’s Link Crew Leadership and Construction classes.
Roxmore Public School Shows How Every Child Matters
Each student at Roxmore Public School decorated a strip of construction paper earlier this week. Each strip was turned into a link connecting all pieces together to form an orange paper chain that hung throughout the school. The message for this activity is that “Every Child Matters”.
St. Lawrence Secondary School Sets up Interactive Display
A group of students at St. Lawrence Secondary School in Cornwall ensured that each student and staff had the opportunity to reflect and learn about today’s significance while at school through an interactive display. This beautiful display showcases student artwork, statistics and poetry that honours the victims and survivors of Residential Schools.
Pakenham Public School Students Donate items to Honour the Day
Pakenham Public School students Liam and Savannah donated a Shabot Obaadijiwan First Nations People flag to the school today. The proceeds from the sale of this flag went towards supporting the Shabot Obaaijiwan's Cultural Centre. As well, student Gabe donated
"Every Child Matters" stickers to each student in his classroom to wear today with pride.
South Crosby Public School Spells Out Their Support
As a school-wide activity, staff and students from South Crosby Public School in Elgin went outdoors and came together to create the human-size spelling of a powerful message: “Today We Acknowledge.”
Char-Lan District High School Commemorates Day with Hoop Dancer
Char-Lan District High School welcomed Feryn King, an Indigenous hoop dancer, to perform an outdoor dance to the song ‘Unforgotten’ by Indigenous artist Iskwe. Williamstown Public School also attended the event, bringing together the school communities for the outdoor event.
Almonte District High School Hosts Outdoor Smudging Ceremony
Almonte District High School hosted an Indigenous Smudging Ceremony to commemorate residential school victims, survivors, and their family members and an outdoor assembly where staff and students planted a heart garden. Students decorated the halls of the school with Orange Shirt Day artwork and they plan to dedicate a page in the yearbook to this special day.
These are just some examples of the good things happening in our schools to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. While today is a significant day, our school board remains committed to continue to further integrate Indigenous cultural history, traditions and lessons into our schools and curriculum all year round.
See the below photo gallery for more ways our schools commemorated the day.