It was a very busy week with tremendous participation from classrooms all across the St. Clair district, as students participated in Orange Shirt week activities.  Each day, from 60 to 100 classrooms participated in the virtual events that provided rich learning opportunities for students.

“We are so grateful to our First Nations partners from across our district,” says Cortnee Goure, Indigenous Education Lead for St. Clair Catholic.  “We learned a great deal from Elders, artists and Residential School survivors.”

Residential School survivor Geraldine Robertson from the Aamjiwnaang First Nation spoke to students first hand about her experiences, her resilience and her hopes for the future.  Bkejwanong Territory second generation survivor Cecil Isaac’s storytelling encouraged students to think about how to take positive action towards reconciliation.  Cecil, along with his family, Cedric, Sandra and Leigh Ann Isaac, used singing and drumming to help tell their story.

Artist Moses Lunham from Kettle and Stony Point First Nation taught students about the importance of belonging, resilience and understanding history and artist Rhonda Snow modelled for students how to have the courage to use their art to share stories. 

Students in all grades across the system were challenged to create interactive displays and to find ways to help educate others about the history of the Residential Schools and its lasting impact.

“We are indeed fortunate to have had so many or our First Nations partners share this rich learning with our students and staff throughout this week,” says Deb Crawford, Director of Education.  “We are called as Catholics to commit to continuing our walk with Indigenous peoples to build a more just society.  We honour the gifts they have shared with us as we use this learning to support the themes of anti-racism and anti-bullying – important steps forward in reconciliation.”