Truth and Reconciliation Week Highlights
Posted on October 3
Anzac students and staff joined together in a round dance.
In recognition and commitment to calls of action to address reconciliation in Alberta, Northland schools participated in Truth and Reconciliation Week activities.
This included students and staff wearing Orange. Orange Shirt Day began in British Columbia in 2013 when a residential school survivor, Phyllis Webstad, shared her story of having her shiny new orange shirt taken away on her first day at a residential school.
Since then, Orange Shirt Day has become an opportunity for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit governments, schools, and communities to come together in the spirit of reconciliation.
Check out the photos below.
Anzac School/Bill Woodward School - Truth and Reconciliation Week
Anzac School and Bill Woodward School organized a number of activities during Truth and Reconciliation Week.
Anzac students read stories with community members and discussed the history and legacy of residential schools. Thank you Ward 9 Trustee Aimee McCamon and Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Councillor Jane Stroud for your support!
Kindergarten students read With Our Orange Hearts by Phyllis Webstad. The students and staff talked about what Every Child Matters means and created orange hearts with words of affirmation and kindness. Students then collaborated to create a banner to hang outside our school.
Students and staff joined together in a round dance. The school would like to thank Randy Martin and his team for speaking to us about his family’s experiences and leading us in song.
Career Pathways School - Truth and Reconciliation Week
Career Pathways School students and staff participated in community-related events during Truth and Reconciliation Week.
The school participated in the Orange Shirt Day Walk in Wabasca. The event was organized by Bigstone Cree Nation and Bigstone Community Wellness.
Students and staff also attended the Wabasca Culture Days.
Chipewyan Lake School - Truth and Reconciliation Week
Chipewyan School, with support from Bigstone Community Wellness, hosted activities during Truth and Reconciliation Week.
- Students, staff, and community members wore orange to honour and bring awareness to the experiences of residential school students.
- Students, staff, and community members participated in a walk.
Elizabeth School - Truth and Reconciliation Week
Elizabeth School students and staff wore orange to honour and bring awareness to the experiences of residential school students.
Hillview School - Truth and Reconciliation Week
Hillview School students and staff wore orange to honour and bring awareness to the experiences of residential school students.
The school hosted a series of activities in partnership with East Prairie Métis Settlement. This included:
- Moment of silence to honour the survivors of residential schools and to those who did not come home.
- Organized a walk in honour of truth and reconciliation.
- Gathered at the gazebo for bannock on a stick.
J.F. Dion School - Truth and Reconciliation Week 2023
J.F. Dion School students and staff wore orange today to honour and bring awareness to the experiences of residential school students.
Northland Online School - Truth and Reconciliation Week
Northland Online School students and staff listened to Residential school survivor and founder of Orange Shirt Day, Phyllis Webstad. Phyllis shared her story and the message that Every Child Matters. The students and staff were wearing orange in honour of the children who never returned home and the survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities.
Mistassiniy School - Truth and Reconciliation Week
Mistassiniy School students and staff wore orange to honour and bring awareness to the experiences of residential school students.
Students and staff have also been connecting to culture. For example, students and staff attended the Wabasca Culture Camp.
St. Theresa School - Truth and Reconciliation Week
St. Theresa School hosted a series of activities during Truth and Reconciliation Week.
- Students and staff wore orange to honour and bring awareness to the experiences of residential school students.
- Students created beautiful artwork in recognition of Truth and Reconciliation Week.
- The school hosted an assembly where they heard from a residential school survivor.
- The school participated in the Orange Shirt Day Walk in Wabasca. The event was organized by Bigstone Cree Nation and Bigstone Community Wellness.
- Students and staff also attended the Wabasca Culture Days.
Susa Creek School - Truth and Reconciliation Week
With support from Youth Connections, students made their own Orange Shirts. After making the shirts, students wore the orange shirts in honour of the children who never returned home and the survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities.
Central Office Staff - Truth and Reconciliation Week
On Friday, September 29th, central office staff wore orange in honour of the children who never returned home and the survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities.
