2023/2024 Monthly Programming Summary

September – Orange Shirt Day

Orange Shirt Day projects in all four schools led up to September 30th. Students wrote personalized messages on orange paper shirts to decorate trees in each school entrance.

Messages varied, but included an expression of empathy or compassion for Residential School Survivors, a personal connection to Residential schools, or a personal goal for furthering the process of Reconciliation.

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October – Salmon

District themed programming in October had many classes going for a nature walk along the Big Eddy greenbelt to visit the confluence of the Columbia and Tum Tum rivers. Students learned about salmon through stories with district Indigenous Student Support staff as well as a Sinixt archaeologist who was visiting Revelstoke.

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November – Contemporary Indigenous Artists

As the weather continued to slow us down into winter, we were excited for students to see and work with a variety of contemporary Indigenous performers.

School-wide performances by Fusion highlighting the talents of world-renowned musician Tunde Jegede, Pow-Wow dancer and award-winning flutist Jess McMann, and Revelstoke’s own Daniel Bhattacharya,
hoop dance workshops for Indigenous students with Jess McMann, and
an afternoon clinic for RSS Band students with acclaimed Indigenous jazz musician Chuck Copenace.

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December – Indigenous Fine Arts

December continued the fine arts theme as we toured the Art Alleries with featured stops to highlight the works of Ric Gendron, Delrée Dumont, and Zuzana Rhia. Each of these works explores a facet of Indigenous histories, cultures, and stories.

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January – Canadian Geographic Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada

We were very excited to kick off the year with the Canadian Geographic MASSIVE floor map. The floor map was 11m x 8 m and completely filled the basement meeting space at the Board Office.

The Indigenous Education Department supported K-12 classes in a variety of activities as this truly is a K-12 cross-curricular extravaganza. Many teachers took advantage of this resource and booked individual class visits as well.

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February – Storytelling

Snow on the ground meant that it was storytelling time. This winter season we were thrilled to have the Lodge (tipi) in its long-term home by the School Board Office as this location allows us to have more room and a small fire inside. This month we invited classes to join us in the tipi for a fire and stories.

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May – MMIWG (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls)

May 5 is the National Day of Awareness for the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2 Spirit People. We set up a REDdress installation beside the Lodge (tipi) with an information board for classes to visit, and Jessica Stewardson was invited into classes to share information and to create awareness and change for this national tragedy.

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June – National Indigenous Peoples Day
For generations, many Indigenous groups and communities have celebrated their culture and heritage on June 21 or around that time of year because of the significance of the summer solstice as the longest day of the year.

This year we invited two classes per school to come to the lodge (tipi) by the Board office to join Lisa Moore and Chase Blackbird from the Friendship Society for story, a short discussion about Reconciliation, and a snack of fire-roasted potatoes and smoked salmon.

 

Limlmtx, Kukwstsétsemc, Suʔkni, (Thank you in Nsyilxcen, Secwépemctsin and Ktunaxa)

Indigenous Education Department:
Indigenous Education District Principal – Jodi Wallach
Indigenous Education District Lead Teacher – Erin England
Indigenous Student Support – Lisa Moore, Marlene Krug, and Jessica Stewardson