A vigil at Maffeo Sutton Park on Sunday, May 30 drew hundreds to honour and respect Indigenous families and culture after last weeks devastating discovery in Kamloops. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Spencer Sterritt

vigil

SD68 says students understand the need to ‘take action to make a difference’

May 31, 2021 | 12:00 PM

NANAIMO — Flags are at half-mast at SD68 schools and teachers are wearing their orange shirts to honour an estimated 215 remains of Indigenous children found at a former residential school site in Kamloops.

Ted Cadwallader, director of instruction, Indigenous learning within SD68, said Monday was a day for somber reflection in the classroom. District staff met with Joan Brown of Snuneymuxw First Nation early on Monday where she shared “beautiful messages and teachings.”

“(She) talked about gratitude in these moments which are really tough,” Cadwallader told NanaimoNewsNOW. “Gratitude those children have been discovered and reunited with their families. Gratitude that we’re in a position to make sure nothing like this ever happens again. She said by approaching these moments with gratitude, it can help us push through it all in the hopes that we learn something and can evolve to a better way of being.”

Much of SD68’s curriculum was already geared towards Indigenous history and teachings in June, to honour National Indigenous History Month.

In light of the remains being found last week, important conversations have happened to raise awareness about Canada’s recent history with Indigenous racism and the residential school system.

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Cadwallader said SD68 students, having received an Indigenous-focused curriculum in recent years, recognize the trauma of the residential school system are still being felt today.

“Most kids are pretty conscious about social justice issues and want to stand on the side of what’s right. Even at a young age, they understand things are not okay and we need to take action to make a difference,” he said.

“The knowledge of those times of residential schools and the impact they’ve had in our communities, impacting who are and how we understand things and how we need to move forward, have been part of students learning along the way.”

Flags at SD68 schools and offices were lowered to half mast on Monday, as teachers wore the orange shirts they’d normally wear on Sept. 30 for Orange Shirt Day.

Cadwallader said it’s a nice gesture from the school district but shouldn’t be the only action taken.

“I’ve seen events like this ignored from a larger societal point of view…it can’t be a one-time event. It can’t be something superficial. There’s 94 calls to action from our Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Taking action even on one of those is a place to start, but it can’t stop there.”

The Assembly of First Nations in 2020 said moderate progress was made on some calls to action, but little progress was made on more than half of the calls, such as equity in the legal system and garnering further education about the residential school system from the Catholic church.

The National Indian Residential School Crisis Line can be reached 24/7 at 1-866-925-4419.

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spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @SpencerSterritt