Over the last five years, it has been a priority of the SD19 Indigenous Education department to reach out and build relationship with the Sinixt, Secwepémc, Ktunaxa, and Syilx Okanagan Nations.  We thought you would like to see some of the beautiful connections that have been made this year.

 

We would like to introduce Donovan Timentwa, a certified teacher of the Nsyilxcen language from the Sinixt Confederacy in Inchelium, WA. He has been spending one day in each of our elementary schools during the first week of each month since February introducing students and staff to this Salish language.

 

We would also like to re-introduce you to Randy William, a knowledge-holder from the Splatsin te Secwépemc Nation in Enderby.  Randy travels to Revelstoke every second week to share stories, hands-on activities, and outdoor games with Revelstoke students.

 

The photo below is the Sturgeon-Nosed Canoe that Wayne Louie from the Ktunaxa Nation built with students from Revelstoke Secondary School in 2019 as part of an Artist-in-Residence grant. It has since dried out and is in need of repair.  We are returning the canoe to Yaqan Nuʔiy (Creston) where Wayne’s nephew will put new bark on the canoe and return to Revelstoke in the Fall.

 

On January 25, 2024, Indigenous grade 3 students travelled to Kelowna to participate in the Primary Winter Gathering, hosted by the Syilx Okanagan Nation.  We are very excited about this opportunity and more details will be sent home soon.

Limlmtx, Kukwstsétsemc, Suʔkni,

(Thank you in Nsyilxcen, Secwépemctsin and Ktunaxa)