Weyt-k (Greetings in Secwepemctsin – pronounced Why-t-k),

Way̓ (Greetings in Nsyilxen – pronounced like the word why),

Kiʔsuʔk kyukyit (Greetings in Ktunaxa – pronounced kyi-suk kyu-kyit with a hard k sound),

 

A huge thank you from the Indigenous Education Department for another wonderful year.  We would like to congratulate the eight graduates from RSS: Carver Bara,  Kiara Cassity, Oskar Glowacki, Kasey Howe, Neige Kerr, Mya Manson, Kim Poirier, and Suri Stewardson. Those who want one will be receiving a blanket representing the spirit of good things to come in the future at the Graduation Ceremony on Friday.

District cultural programming

May – Rocks are our Relatives – An Indigenous worldview sees the interconnections between all beings. Whether they are plants, animals, fish, or rocks, all components of the world exist in reciprocity with one another. Grandfather Rocks are ancient teachers that hold stories about memory, stillness, and patience. At the boat launch we engaged in a variety of grade level appropriate activities that use storytelling, music, meditation, or balancing to explore these teachings.

Indigenous Student Leadership Summit

In Spring 2025, over 150 Indigenous youth from eleven school districts across the southern interior of British Columbia gathered on the territory of the Secwepemc Nation, specifically Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc to participate in a landmark Indigenous Student Leadership Summit on Mental Health. Students created calls to action for schools, school districts, and the province.  The Indigenous Leadership group will use these calls to action to guide conversations in 25-26. The video from this year’s summit is linked below. (If it doesn’t open, try clicking the link again)

2025 Indigenous Student Leadership Summit Video

Indigenous Student Support Staff

A huge thank you to Lisa Moore, Marlene Krug, and Dylan Murray who work in all four schools to support Indigenous students culturally, socially, and academically.  They work closely with students to support each student’s unique set of strengths and stretches, and they share cultural learning with everyone in the schools. Congratulations to Dylan as he leaves our district to focus on his avalanche guiding career!  We have posted a position for next year on the school district website.  Click here to read details and contact Jodi Wallach (jwallach@sd19.bc.ca) if you have any questions.

Secwepemc Nation

Randy Williams, a Secwepemc Knowledge Holder, continued to travel to Revelstoke twice each month to share Secwepemc culture and history with Revelstoke students.

Ktunaxa Nation

We’ve been exploring opportunities to expand Ktunaxa cultural and historical education for Revelstoke students in collaboration with Ktunaxa members of the Revelstoke Indigenous Education Council, and we’re excited to celebrate the return of the White Pine Bark Canoe once its restoration is complete.

Okanagan Nation

Indigenous grade 3 students once again were invited to the Okanagan Primary Winter Gathering where students danced, drummed, listened to stories, and learned about attending Pow Wows.

Sinixt Confederacy

Some of our grade 4 students met Shelly Boyd, the Arrow Lakes Facilitator at the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, where she showed students the Sinixt Canoe they would be using on the annual canoe journey from Revelstoke to Kettle Falls.  At the community dinner, Shelly shared that this was one of her highlights of her time in Revelstoke this year.

District Programming

Check out the link to the District Cultural programming that was offered to Revelstoke students by the Indigenous department this year.

Limləmt – Thank you in Nsilxcən – pronounced lim-lemt

Kukwstsétsemc – Thank you in Secwepemctsin – pronounced Cooks-jam

Suʔkni – Thank you in Ktunaxa – pronounced suh-kuh-nee