Indigenous Learning & Culture

We will achieve equity of outcomes for Indigenous learners in Cariboo-Chilcotin School District. We will continue to examine our environments, structures, and practices to identify and address barriers. We are committed to continuing to strengthen relationships with First Nation communities as rightsholders and collaborate with community partners who support Indigenous children and youth and their families. We will embed learning about Indigenous culture, perspectives, and language in the daily experience of learners in our schools. Some examples of the work of our plan are:

•District-wide staff learning about Truth and Reconciliation, local Indigenous culture, Circle of Courage and trauma-informed practice

•Planned school-wide culture learning aligned with calendar of local cultural seasonal activities

•Visible language and culture across schools (Knowledge keepers in schools, ceremony, welcome signage, elders posters)

•Review of school libraries and resource collections and additional funding for Authentic First Peoples Resources

•Recognizing cultural learning in community with graduation program credits (local Independent Directed Study framework)

•Meaningful engagement of schools and district in Local Education Agreements (LEA)

•Re-engagement with Equity in Action 

Explore the ways we are LEARNING BETTER TOGETHER for equity for Indigenous students and learning about local Indigenous culture for all students and staff:

Gathering and incorporating “Braiding SWEETGRASS”

Skyline Alternate

Youth went out to gather vegetables to prepare for Skyline Welcoming feast.

Opening Day

Lac La Hache Elementary

Lac La Hache elementary school greatly appreciated the Canim Lake Knowledge Keepers getting our school year off to a great start through some indigenous cultural practices such as smudging and drumming. 

Canim Lake Pow Wow

Lac La Hache Elementary 

The Lac La Hache students and staff were very appreciative and honoured to participate and enjoy the Canim Lake Pow Wow focused on educating the different types of indigenous dance. 

Walking Together - Equine Assisted Learning

Tatla Lake Elementary & Jr. Secondary School

Our school recently hosted an enriching event focused on Indigenous Learning, inspired by the book "Walking Together.". The day featured an equine-assisted learning experience, where students engaged with horses to build awareness and understanding. Working collaboratively, the students in one activity practiced matching their steps to the horses' movements, emphasizing the importance of connection, respect, and mindfulness—key values highlighted in Indigenous teachings. 

Primary Students Attend Healing For Our Children Traditional Pow Wow

Horse Lake Elementary

The Tsq'escen First Nation at Canim Lake invited our grade one and two students to the Healing For Our Children Traditional Pow Wow to experience the event.  Our students were fascinated with the dancing and the regalia, and then jumped at the opportunity to join the dancing.  The Pow Wow featured one of our own students, Chloe Pellerin, in full regalia dancing with her classmates.

Sqleten (salmon) and Trout at Nesika

Nesika Elementary

Ms. Danikka Murphy shared some beautiful salmon and trout with our students last week. Having spent the weekend cleaning and preparing fish for her community, she spoke with the students about the gratitude she feels for the fish who give their lives to nourish ours. Students learned how to tell the difference between male and female salmon and noticed the similarities and differences between the salmon and the trout. Danikka finished off the learning with a brainstorm of ways that we might prepare the fish: smoked, candied, canned, BBQ and fish head soup were all ideas shared by the students.

Smudging

Cultural Committee

Ms. McCartney and Ms. Billyboy, both part of the Cultural Committee volunteered to smudge at the front entrance of Columneetza to start off the week of Sept. 24th-27th & Sept. 30th honouring Truth and Reconciliation.  

Start of Year Smudge

150 Mile Elementary

150 Mile Elementary was excited to have Val West attend our school to provide a start of school year smudge. Val took the time to explain what the significance of a smudge was and what all the parts of the tools represented. Val walked around the students and staff allowing them to smell the smudge smoke and see the tools and then offered individual smudges to any students and staff that requested.

Collecting Rocks

Alexis Creek Elementary/ Jr/ Sec School

At Alexis Creek Elementary /Jr /Sec School, we decided to embark on a special project for recognizing Orange Shirt Day, and Truth and Reconciliation. For our project, we needed to collect river rocks. We found a wonderful spot at the bridge near Yunesit'in, where the Chilcotin River gifts us with many beautiful shaped river stones and rocks. We spent part of our morning collecting river rocks. We began by saying thanks to the rocks for letting us move them to our school where we can paint them and honor them in our project. We all worked together to gather those perfect rocks. The rain didn't bother us a bit.

Grade 7 Students Lead Horse Lake Orange Shirt Day Assembly

Horse Lake Elementary

The Horse Lake Elementary grade 7 students, under the guidance of their teacher, Lisa Pugh, organized and presented our school's Orange Shirt Day Assembly.  They began the ceremony with a Territorial Acknowledgement that they had authored, then introduced a video of Phyllis Webstad  describing the origins of Orange Shirt Day.  This was followed by a "What Is Truth and Reconciliation" video which explained the reason for the day being observed across the country.  The assembly concluded with a video of the Women's Warrior Song to honor survivors by Elder Martina Pierre of the Lil'Wat Nation.  The grade 7 students drummed and sang along with the song, while all the students circled the perimeter of the gym and did the Friendship Dance.

Learning about Salmon

Horsefly and Big Lake 

The Horsefly and Big Lake kids learned about the salmon and the forest while exploring the Horsefly River. 

Orange Shirt Day author visit with Courtney Defriend!

Tatla Lake Elementary & Jr. Secondary School

Courtney read her book "If Instead of a Person" and lead us in a brief, child-friendly discussion on the themes of Orange Shirt Day and Truth & Reconciliation. "If Instead of a Person," depicts traditional teachings on our connection and similarities to Mother Earth. In the past, Residential Schools did not allow such teachings to be shared with our children. Today, this book contributes to many ways to reintroduce Indigenous principles to children and families and encourages us all to be agents of change.

Orange Shirt Day at Forest Grove

Forest Grove Elementary

Students listened and learned in a good way form Trish Meraw from Canim Lake about the history and experiences in residential schools. The school has created orange shirt day hearts for our school ground as a reminder or the importance of this day.

Every Child Matters at Anahim Lake School

Anahim Lake School

We celebrated Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day this whole month. Younger children made paper chains out of orange paper with handwritten mantras for those they loved. Older students made calzone for every child to take home this past Food Friday and Perogies two weeks previously. We took our beautiful, student-made stand up paddleboards to launch at a local lake but ended up playing on the beach instead. It turns out that it's easy for non-locals to get lost on roads leading to our community. We will shoot for another launch in the spring. All was not lost as our Denisiqi friends made a fire for us all to share in its warmth. 

Orange Shirt Day Mile 108 Elementary

Mile 108 Elementary

The focus of our day was to be together, learn more about Indigenous culture, and and to build human connection and strengthen sense of belonging through shared experience. It was a great day! 

Orange Shirt Day Parade

Lac La Hache Elementary 

The students of Lac La Hache Elementary School participated in an Orange Shirt Day parade to help bring awareness to the the community of the upcoming Truth and Reconciliation day. 

Truth and Reconciliation Medicine Plants Walk with Elders.

Naghtaneqed Elementary Junior Secondary 

Naghtaneqed students and elders travelled to 4500 Road in Nemiah Valley to pick Labrador leaves and Rose hip berries. We will be making Labrador tea, and Rosehip jelly Tuesday and Wednesday.

Drumming Preparation

Cataline Elementary

With the knowledge gained from Mrs. Charley and Mr. Favelle, Ms. Bonnell has begun this year teaching (and reviewing) her grade 4/5 class traditional drumming in preparation for morning walks at Cataline Elementary. Using the drum making kits funded by FNEC and then crafted by the grade 6 students of last year, this year’s students are able to participate fully in weekly drumming and singing both during their Language and Culture time, as well as with their classroom teachers. 

School-wide Bannock

Cataline Elementary

With the guidance of our guest, Sonya Charley, and the support of Cataline’s Indigenous Support Worker, Jennifer Bauerochse, students had the opportunity to make traditional Bannock during Mrs. Charley’s Language and Culture class. Various classes were able to follow the direction of Mrs. Charley, getting their hands in the dough, to create enough Bannock for the whole school to enjoy! 

Smoking Salmon

Cataline Elementary

Under the direction of Cataline’s ISW, Jennifer Bauerochse and Language and Culture teacher, Mrs. Charley, Cataline students learned about the traditional methods of cleaning, preparing and smoking salmon. Although, the salmon was smoked in a less than traditional format, the students were able to use this salmon to connect the importance of this animal to Indigenous cultures, as well as learning the traditional ways of curing and drying the meat in preparation for winter storage. It tasted delicious, too.  

Engaging with Indigenous Authors

Cataline Elementary

Cataline elementary students were treated to virtual Indigenous author readings during National Truth and Reconciliation week. Having registered for various events, Cataline students were able to sit comfortably within their classrooms or gymnasium and listen virtually to authors, such as Phyllis Webstad and Courtney Defriend, read their own stories, getting a firsthand description of what inspired the writing, the message, and the importance of the book. 

PSO's Annual Sage Picking Trip

Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School

PSO students travelled to the Ashcroft area to harvest sage and juniper, learn about medicines and spend a day on the land. 

Orange Shirt Day

Nesika Elementary

100 students from Nesika Elementary School had the immense privilege to visit the WLFN Pow wow arbor for a gathering of well over 500 students and colleagues from SD27. They took two buses and were there for half the day. Students had the opportunity to listen to speeches and bear witness to survivors' accounts. Local community agencies were well represented and students were even gifted with food and items to take home. Thank you Orange Shirt Society, SD27, WLFN and all who helped put together this meaningful event.    

Orange Shirt Day at Likely School

Likely Elementary

Likely staff and students learn about Truth and Reconciliation. 

Indigenous Plant Cultural Mapping

Horse Lake Elementary

"Horse Lake Elementary's grade 7 class travelled to the north shore of Horse Lake to record where a variety of Indigenous plants were located and respectfully harvest some of the plants, under the guidance of their teacher, Mrs. Pugh.  After harvest, some of the plants will be used for gifts for visiting elders and knowledge keepers and other plants will be re-seeded into our Indigenous Plant Garden located behind our classroom. 

Our Indigenous Plant Garden was created in 2022 as part of a NOIIE funded project with the help of Secwepemc elder Grace Archie and Knowledge Keeper Joe Archie who guided us to discover plants around our school. This year's field trip will continue the legacy and keep the garden growing. 

Students will continue to work with the garden in May-June when we will be transplanting smaller plants into the garden as well.  Also, a cultural map of the plants we observed will be created to show others where various plants used for ceremony, food, technology, and medicine are found in our area.

Gathering and Honoring

Skyline Alternate 

The afternoon was spent at the Desniqi Gathering.  One youth’s quote of the day, “We played in the park, we had fun and I felt like a child.”