Indigenous Education

Children of residential schools are honored annually on Orange Shirt Day.  The campaign slogan - Every Child Matters - loosely translates to KIHCI-ITA-KIS-IW in Cree, which means All Living Things Matter.  As part of First Nations culture, childhood is the foundation of our journey through life.  Building a strong foundation is vital to the development of the person they will become. The translation of all living things matter honors the Cree holistic value that everything in life is sacred.  Orange Shirt Day began to help spread awareness for children who attended residential schools. The orange shirt symbolizes these children having their identities stripped away. LPSD schools will be celebrating the culture and honoring the history through age-appropriate lessons and activities on September 30th.

Orange Shirt Day Resources:

Saskatchewan curriculum website or at www.reconciliation.edonline.sk.ca.

What is Reconciliation?

Legacy of Residential Schools

Orange Shirt Day Website

Where are the Children?  Residential School Stories - About 40 stories told by people who survived the residential schools.

Interactive Residential School Map

Manitoba Teachers’ Society - Lesson plans and resources for all ages.

Books:

When I Was Eight by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton

Speaking Our Truth: Journey of Reconciliation by Monique Gray Smith

Fatty Legs by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton

Stolen Words by Melanie Florence

When We Were Alone by David Alexander Robertson

A Day with Yayah by Nicola Campbell and Julie Flett

A Stranger at Home: A True Story  by Christy Jordan-Fenton

They Called Me Number One: Secrets and Survival at an Indian Residential School by Bev Sellars

The Orange Shirt Story: Every Child Matters by Phyllis Webstad

Videos:

Murray Sinclair: Truth and Reconciliation

Murray Sinclair discusses the Indian Residential School system in Canada and its impacts on those who attended the St. Joseph's Mission in Williams Lake and the First Nations of Canada. Video clips of events between May 16, 2013 Truth and Reconciliation Testimonial Gathering in Williams Lake BC and the Orange Shirt day held on Sept. 30, 2013.

St. Joseph’s Residential School Stories - Phyllis’ story

There is a lot of stories that the Residential School has left in its wake, and most are not pleasant. The problem we have today is not many people know about what it was like. Jonathan Horst heard some of the stories from William Lake’s local school and discovered that it's not something that should be forgotten.

St. Joseph’s Residential School Commemoration Project

Very recently the Truth and Reconciliation Commission came to Williams Lake. Their arrival gave those affected by the Residential schools a place to share their experience and begin to heal. But this Commemoration project was unique, and Jonathan Horst of Williams Lake found out why.

Understanding the importance of building better relationships amongst Indigenous Peoples and Canadians and knowledging and understanding their respective governments and civil society institutions, and in terms of climate change, biodiversity, and ecological stewardship more broadly.

Circle of Courage

Presentlearning.com Circle of Courage

Treaty Resources

Can be accessed through the K-9 Treaty Education Learning Resource link on the Saskatchewan curriculum website or at www.reconciliation.edonline.sk.ca.

Office of the Treaty Commissioner – About the Treaties

Metis Awareness

Rupertsland Educational Resources

Metis Nation of Alberta

Metis Nation of Saskatchewan

University of Alberta

Additional Resources

Inuit Resources

Additional Resources

Aski – (pre-k, K, Gr1)

Help Me Tell My Story

Help Me Talk About Math

Additional Teacher Resources (core subject areas)

www.fnmiprofessionallearning.ca

• LPSD Cree word of the day.
• Elementary Cree Clubs
• Cree Classes at E.S. Laird Middle School
• Cree 10 and 20 at Lloydminster Comprehensive High School

Our Small Fires Indigenous Mentorship Program (SFIM) is designed to engage and connect First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) and non-Indigenous students through culturally-based programming within Lloydminster Public School Division. Through mentorship, students will be involved in building relationships through school outreach; students provide mentorship within the school community, including the elementary, middle and high schools. This also provides opportunities for students to develop leadership, responsibility and interpersonal skills by educating the school community about the history of Indigenous people and the enduring impacts of colonization. 

SFIM responds to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's (TRC) 94 calls to action to advance reconciliation by offering programming that strengthens the learning connected to Indigenous perspectives, cultures, histories and Indigenous ways of knowing. “Reconciliation begins for each of us with one very simple concept reflected in the events at first contact and in the Treaties: I want to be your friend, and I want you to be mine. When you need me, I’ll have your back, and when I need you, you’ll have mine." (Sinclair, 2015 ) We aim to start a path of education, raise awareness and build relationships within LPSD so all our youth believe in themselves and are empowered to invest in their future. 

The Objectives of the Indigenous Mentoring Program: 

•         Provide students with a sense of belonging while developing a strong connection to self, peers and society.
•         Investing in student’s physical, emotional, spiritual and mental needs.
•         Educating through culture while working with Elders
•         Assist students in developing their academic potential while engaged in the learning process and encouraging the pursuit of higher education.

If you are interested in participating in our Small Fires Mentorship program please contact Denae Bruce at (780) 875-5513 or by emailing contact@lpsd.ca.