Mission School District unveiled its locally developed Residential School Curriculum website on National Aboriginal Day (June 21) at Xa:ytem B.C.
A large crowd – including survivors, elders, educators, RCMP, Mission council, local First Nation council members and more – attended the event to honour and acknowledge the contributions that residential school survivors, elders and Mission Public School staff made towards the locally developed website for students and teachers from Kindergarten through to Grade 12.
The site, called Stories of Truth, is the result of a two year process of consultation. The website holds several powerful, locally developed video, audio and print resources and can be found at greatspirithand.com
The celebration began with a traditional feast, followed by an honouring ceremony, speeches and elementary students singing Leave the World a Little bit Better, while three eagles flew overhead at the historic B.C. landmark.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada presented its 94 Calls to Action in December 2015. Call to Action #63(i) included: Developing and Implementing Kindergarten to Grade 12 Curriculum and learning resources on Aboriginal Peoples in Canadian history, and the history and legacy of Residential Schools. This website is a direct result of this call to action.
The goal of this effort is to build student capacity for inter cultural understanding, empathy and mutual respect.