Indigenous Family Gathering & Milestone Ceremony

It was so nice seeing many of you at the Indigenous Family Gathering and Milestone Celebration last week. We were able to witness and recognize this time of transition for the incoming Kindergarten students, students leaving elementary school for high school, and the Grade 12 students who are graduating.  Each of these students received a gift that was handmade, from the beading to the stitching, by Lisa Moore.  A huge thank you to Lisa for the time, dedication, and care that she put into designing and creating these gifts that incorporate a beaded version of the Indigenous Education Department logo.  This logo highlights the elements of this land that make it special – the mountains, the river, and the cedar trees.

We would like to congratulate the six graduates from RSS:  Kayser Cameron, Ella Deverall, Danica Harris, Maya Howe-Short, Noah Kenyon, and Norah Painter.  Those who want one will be receiving a blanket representing the spirit of good things to come at the Graduation Ceremony on June  26th.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Indigenous Student Support Staff 

A huge thank you to Kiara Cassity (BVE & CPE), Mya Manson (AHE & BVE), Lisa Moore (RSS), and Marlene Krug (RSS & CPE) who work in Revelstoke schools to support Indigenous students culturally, socially, and academically. Recess and lunch programming are always a highlight. In May students created salmon projects to decorate school bulletin boards that were also on display at the Family Gathering.  Other recent highlights included the Indigenous games station at sports day where students learn how these games teach accuracy and precision for hunting, and drum circles to show the connection between fractions and music.

New Delreé Dumont mural at RSS

A huge thank you to Delreé who recently completed her third mural in Revelstoke schools.  This one can be found on the third floor of RSS across from the library. Delreé shared these Indigenous teachings contained in her beautiful design:

This circular painting honours Mother Earth as the living centre of all creation. She is shown with eyes gently closed, holding the wisdom of the land, water, sky, and all relations. At her heart rests the Medicine Wheel, reminding us of balance—between the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual realms, and between the four directions, seasons, and stages of life in colours that represents all nationalities.

Surrounding Mother Earth are the spirit animals of the Seven Sacred Teachings, or Grandfather teachings, each one offering its medicine and responsibility: strength, humility, wisdom, courage, honesty, respect, and love. They stand as protectors and teachers, reminding us that these teachings are not abstract ideas, but living ways of being carried by the natural world.

Rooted throughout the landscape are the Standing People—the trees—rising quietly around the circle. They are the original teachers of patience, generosity, and endurance, holding the soil, sheltering life, and carrying the breath of the world. Their roots reach deep into the earth while their branches stretch toward the sky, reminding us of our responsibility to remain grounded while reaching for knowledge.

Above, Grandfather Sun brings warmth, life, and clarity, while Grandmother Moon watches over the cycles, tides, and the sacred feminine. The Star People shimmer in the sky, representing ancestral guidance and our connection to the cosmos—reminding us that we are never alone and that our stories are written both on the land and in the stars.

Flowing through the painting is Water, the lifeblood of Mother Earth, symbolizing cleansing, renewal, and continuity. It connects all beings—two-legged, four-legged, winged, finned, rooted, and the unseen—carrying memory, prayer, and life forward through generations.

Together, these elements form a sacred circle of relationship, balance, and responsibility—an invitation to remember our place within creation and to walk gently, guided by the teachings passed down since time immemorial.

Revelstoke Indigenous Education Council (IEC)

Indigenous Education Councils are intended to reflect and support the distinct and diverse Indigenous students population in their school district, while respecting local First Nations in whose territories the board and the IEC operate. You can find more information about the Revelstoke IEC on the Indigenous Education Department website here.

Opportunities shared on our website:

Métis Nation BC – Youth Employment and Training Initiative

The Ministry of Youth at Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) is excited to introduce the Youth Employment & Training Initiative (Y.E.T.I.), a virtual summer program that supports Métis youth in exploring career and post-secondary pathways, developing career readiness skills, and building confidence for their future.  Click here to learn more

Indigenous Teacher Education program

The NITEP Merritt Field Centre, in partnership with Bonaparte First Nation and Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT), is a three-year, blended-delivery Bachelor of Education pathway designed to support Indigenous students in becoming educators while remaining connected to their home communities and existing commitments.  Click here to learn more

A huge thank you from the entire Indigenous Education department. Have a wonderful summer and we look forward to connecting again in the Fall.

Jodi, Erin, Lisa, Kiara, Mya, and Marlene