Envisioning Reconciliation by the Grade 6 Students of SD57 and SD91

Designed and Facilitated by Nicole Schafenacker (Health Arts Research Centre, UNBC) and Noelle Pepin (District Cultural Support Teacher, Aboriginal Education, SD57) with guidance from Dakelh Elder, Lucille Duncan, and support from the Central Interior Native Health Society (CINHS).

This project was created as an in service to follow the Walk to Truth and Reconciliation led by Dr. Montana Halliday and Executive Director of CINHS, Shobha Sharma in October, 2018. During the Walk to Truth and Reconciliation Grade 6 students from SD91 and SD57 visited The Central Interior Native Health Society, the Prince George Courthouse, the Native Friendship Centre and Uda Dune Baiyoh (House of Ancestors) to learn more about Canada’s history of colonization from courageous members of the Prince George community. Students also learned about local efforts being made to carry out the 94 recommendations made by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission across sectors including healthcare, education and the justice system, as well as grassroots community initiatives. Following this, they had an opportunity to listen to Elder Lucille Duncan share about her firsthand experience as a residential school survivor and her journey through healing. Students then reflected creatively through collage on how they envision themselves and their community bringing reconciliation into their day-to day-lives and actions. These birds represent the hopes of the next generation for creating a Nation to Nation relationship grounded in truth, equality, respect, and love. Thank you for visiting!

Thank you to our amazing Grade 6 students, their teachers and teacher assistants: Brigitte Atwood (W.L. McLeod), Christina Pittman (Nusdeh Yoh), Dominic O’Driscoll (Southridge), Chelsea Thiessen, Navid Mathiscyk, David Henderson and Amber Desjarlais (École Lac de Bois), to Wayne Nipshank (Central Interior Native Health Society), and to Myles Tycholis (Prince George Conference and Civic Centre).