By Adam Donnelly

Day of Sucwentwcx celebrated throughout SD #73

Apr 6, 2018 | 4:43 PM

KAMLOOPS — In schools across District 73, today is a day of celebration within the first nations community. The day is called Sucwentwcx. While it’s a day intended to build a stronger understanding of the Secwepemc culture it’s also meant to build stronger ties between the indigenous people and the rest of the community.

It started with the Sage Hill Singers, and some traditional dancers, sharing a variety of dances with students at South Kamloops Secondary School.

Friday marked the day of Sucwentwcx across School District #73. For Garry Gottfriedson, the event was an opportunity to share the concept of Sucwentwcx with students at South Kam.

“Sucwentwcx is a concept of living and respecting each other, and honouring each other,” speaker Garry Gottfriedson explained.

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For one grade 8 student, it was a chance to acknowledge her First Nations heritage.

Skylah Joe-George shared an original poem about the residential school system and the trauma it caused to so many indigenous families.

“[The] main purpose of it was to really inspire people, and to have people to have a better understanding of the effect residential schools have had on families like mine, and also many other,” Joe-George explained.

She says she’s seen the damage the residential school system wrought first hand. Through her poem, she wants to help educate people about that damage.

“It was always abused and hurt people had from residential schools,” she explained. “People assume lots of First Nations people are drunks or drug addicts, and I wanted [readers] to know the reason was residential schools. It’s not that we just chose that.”

For Gottfriedson, who is himself a published poet was inspired by Skylah’s willingness to put herself and her poetry out there.

“She represents the new voice, the young up-and-coming voice that’s learning that they have a voice,” Gottfriedson said. “For me to be able to see a young aboriginal person get up …. and speak that truth is absolutely amazing, and it is powerful.”

That power and that willingness to speak is one trait the new generation of indigenous people have been demonstrating. Through the Day of Sucwentwcx, it’s an opportunity for their voices to be heard.