Schools Host Indigenous Day Celebrations

In honour of National Indigenous History Month and leading up to National Indigenous Peoples Day, SD72 schools are hosting a variety of events and learning opportunities.

Georgia Park Elementary held an Indigenous Celebration Day on June 10 that started with a blessing of the school’s outdoor learning space, Forest School, with its new ʔayʔaǰuθəm name by Chief Darren Blaney of the Homalco First Nation.

Students and staff then gathered in the gym for more words from Chief Blaney, a drum club performance with Qwaya Sam, and a presentation by the grade 5 students who participated in this year’s paddle project of their completed paddles.

Students also had the opportunity to rotate through stations and activities, which included learning about the traditional salmon barbeque process, ethnobotany, and music and art, and enjoyed bannock at lunch.

A couple days later, on June 13, Penfield Elementary enjoyed an outdoor celebration to recognize their year-long Indigenous learnings.

Students and staff formed a circle on their school field to enjoy drumming by the schools drumming group led by Shana Smith, participated in song and dance, and paid tribute to their grade 5 students as they prepare to transition to middle school next year.

Our schools are on the traditional territories of the Laichwiltach, Klahoose, and K’omoks First Nations and we benefit from learning from these First Nations, as well as the Homalco First Nations and all other First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples who reside in these territories.

One of our district’s three strategic priorities is to ensure that Indigenous students see their culture reflected in their schools and classrooms and we remain committed to that work in the spirit of reconciliation.