June 10, 2026 (Carleton Place, ON) – The Grade 4/5/6 class at Arklan Community Public School have been awarded a Spirit Bear Award from First Nations Child and Family Caring Society. Along with the recognition, they received a $500 prize for their outstanding commitment to reconciliation and advancing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.
Named in honour of Spirit Bear, a symbol of equity and a champion for children, the award celebrates groups of young people who demonstrate meaningful and ongoing efforts toward reconciliation. The Arklan PS students were selected by the award’s selection committee for their year-long experiential learning project focused on learning, advocacy, and community action.
Under the leadership of classroom teacher Emma Pearce-Mogridge, students worked closely with the Calls to Action, as well as the stories of Shannen Koostachin and Spirit Bear, gaining an understanding of the importance of equitable education and Indigenous rights. Inspired by the Seven Grandfather Teachings, the class reflected on how they could make a difference and took meaningful steps to turn their learning into action.
Their efforts included writing letters to government officials in support of Shannen’s Dream and launching a letter-writing campaign that extended to both their school and the wider community. Students also partnered with Carleton Place High School to design and produce stickers and keychains, which were sold in local businesses to raise funds for the Caring Society.
In addition to advocacy and fundraising, students created a wide range of projects to share their learning and inspire others. These included a class land acknowledgement, a wampum-belt-inspired class treaty, a multimedia mural, and a community Heart Garden. They collaborated with community partners, hosted initiatives at the local library, and worked with other schools to promote clean water awareness through the Blue Community Schools program.
The $500 Spirit Bear Award will support Arklan PS students’ ongoing reconciliation work, to continue their advocacy, education, and community engagement efforts.
Find more photos and a detailed record of all the steps of the project here.