Orange Shirt Day

ORANGE SHIRT DAY

NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH & RECONCILIATION

MONSTER - By Dennis Saddleman

I HATE YOU RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL

I HATE YOU

YOU’RE A MONSTER

A HUGE HUNGRY MONSTER BUILT WITH STEEL BONES BUILT WITH CEMENT FLESH YOU’RE A MONSTER BUILT TO DEVOUR INNOCENT NATIVE CHILDREN

YOU’RE A COLD-HEARTED MONSTER COLD AS THE CEMENT FLOORS

YOU HAVE NO LOVE

NO GENTLE ATMOSPHERE

YOUR UGLY FACE GROOVED WITH RED BRICKS YOUR MONSTER EYES GLARE FROM GRIMY WINDOWS

MONSTER EYES SO EVIL MONSTER EYES WATCHING TERRIFIED CHILDREN COWER WITH SHAME

I HATE YOU RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL I HATE YOU YOU’RE A SLIMY MONSTER OOZING IN THE SHADOWS OF MY PAST GO AWAY LEAVE ME ALONE

YOU’RE FOLLOWING ME FOLLOWING ME WHEREVER I GO YOU’RE IN MY DREAMS IN MY MEMORIES GO AWAY MONSTER GO AWAY

I HATE YOU YOU’RE FOLLOWING ME

I HATE YOU RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL I HATE YOU YOU’RE A MONSTER WITH HUGE WATERY MOUTH MOUTH OF DOUBLE DOORS

YOUR WIDE MOUTH TOOK ME

YOUR YELLOW STAINED TEETH CHEWED THE INDIAN OUT OF ME

YOUR TEETH CRUNCHED MY LANGUAGE GRINDED MY RITUALS AND MY TRADITIONS

YOUR TASTE BUDS BECAME BITTER

WHEN YOU TASTED MY RED SKIN YOU SWALLOWED ME WITH DISGUST YOUR FACE WRINKLED WHEN YOU TASTED MY STRONG PRIDE

I HATE YOU RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL I HATE YOU YOU’RE A MONSTER

YOUR THROAT MUSCLES FORCED ME

DOWN TO YOUR STOMACH

YOUR THROAT MUSCLES SQUEEZED MY HAPPINESS

SQUEEZED MY DREAMS SQUEEZED MY NATIVE VOICE

YOUR THROAT BECAME CLOGGED WITH MY SACRED SPIRIT

YOU COUGHED AND YOU CHOKED FOR YOU CANNOT WITH STAND MY SPIRITUAL SONGS AND DANCES

I HATE YOU RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL I HATE YOU YOU’RE A MONSTER

YOUR STOMACH UPSET EVERY TIME I WET MY BED YOUR STOMACH RUMBLED WITH ANGER EVERY TIME I FELL ASLEEP IN CHURCH

Your stomach growled at me every time I broke the school rules

Your stomach was full You burped

You felt satisfied You rubbed your belly and you didn’t care You didn’t care how you ate up my native Culture

You didn’t care if you were messy if you were piggy

You didn’t care as long as you ate up my Indianness

I hate you Residential School I hate you

You’re a monster

Your veins clotted with cruelty and torture Your blood poisoned with loneliness and despair Your heart was cold it pumped fear into me

I hate you Residential School I hate you You’re a monster

Your intestines turned me into foul entrails

Your anal squeezed me squeezed my confidence squeezed my self respect

Your anal squeezed then you dumped me

Dumped me without parental skills without life skills

Dumped me without any form of character without individual talents without a hope for success

I hate you Residential School I hate you

You’re a monster

You dumped me in the toilet then You flushed out my good nature my personalities

I hate you Residential School I hate you

You’re a monster………I hate hate hate you

Thirty three years later

I rode my chevy pony to Kamloops

From the highway I saw the monster

My Gawd! The monster is still alive

I hesitated I wanted to drive on but something told me to stop I parked in front of the Residential School in front of the monster

The monster saw me and it stared at me

The monster saw me and I stared back

We both never said anything for a long time

Finally with a lump in my throat

I said, “Monster I forgive you.”

The monster broke into tears

The monster cried and cried His huge shoulders shook He motioned for me to come forward

He asked me to sit on his lappy stairs

The monster spoke You know I didn’t like my Government Father I didn’t like my Catholic Church Mother

I’m glad the Native People adopted me They took me as one of their own They fixed me up Repaired my mouth of double doors Washed my window eyes with cedar and fir boughs They cleansed me with sage and sweetgrass

Now my good spirit lives

The Native People let me stay on their land They could of burnt me you know instead they let me live so People can come here to school restore or learn about their culture

The monster said, “I’m glad the Native People gave me another chance I’m glad Dennis you gave me another chance

The monster smiled I stood up I told the monster I must go Ahead of me is my life. My people are waiting for me

I was at the door of my chevy pony

The monster spoke, “Hey you forgot something I turned around I saw a ghost child running down the cement steps

It ran towards me and it entered my body

I looked over to the monster I was surprised I wasn’t looking at a monster anymore I was looking at an old school In my heart I thought This is where I earned my diploma of survival I was looking at an old Residential School who became my elder of my memories I was looking at a tall building with four stories stories of hope stories of dreams stories of renewal and stories of tomorrow

Nicola Canford Elementary Walk: Sept. 29, 10:30 AM, meet at the Shulus Hall

Lower Nicola Indian Band School, Merritt Central Elementary, Diamond Vale Elementary and MSS Students: Sept. 29, 11:00 AM, meet at the School Board Office

Upper Nicola Band: Sept. 30, 9:30 AM, meet at the Upper Nicola Band Office

Dennis will be performing his poem as part of APTN’s coverage of Truth and Reconciliation Day, live online, and in-person at LeBreton Park in Ottawa. The broadcast will take place September 30 from 10 to 11am PST. https://www.aptnnews.ca/ourstories/rememberingthechildren/

Saddleman to read poem in Ottawa for APTN

part in a national broadcast com memorating National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This Friday, September 30, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) and Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) will partner up to produce and broadcast a program entitled Remembering the Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Dennis Saddleman, who resides in the Nicola Valley, is on the list of speakers for the nationwide event.

Marius Auer

REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

Note: This story may contain infor mation that is difficult for many, and our efforts to honour Survivors and families may act as an unwelcome reminder for those who have suffered hardships through generations of harmful government policy directed at Indigenous people in Canada.

A local First Nations writer and residential school survivor will take

The special program will honour residential school survivors, their families, their communities, and the children who never made it home. Saddleman will deliv er remarks, and perform a reading of his poem Monster, which he wrote about his experiences attending Kamloops Indian Residential School (KIRS) from 1957 to 1967. He recently sat down with the Herald to discuss his experience at KIRS, and his excitement to head to Ottawa’s LeBreton Flats Park to perform his origi nal work.

“When I left home I was six years old, and it was really hard to say goodbye to my family,” said Saddleman.

“My grandpa was my inspiration for my language and my stories, and my dad showed me how to work by giving me

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Dennis Saddleman will address the nation on Truth and Reconciliation Day, sharing his story and experience on APTN. Photo/Herald File

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5 cents a day looking after the chicken house. My mom showed me lots of love, lots of kindness, and I remember her cook ing and serving meals at a big oak table we had.”

Saddleman would eventually be force fully separated from this loving family, swallowed up by the “monster” the federal government had erected to “kill the Indian in the child.” During his decade at KIRS, he would suffer mental, physical, and sexual abuse. The young boy was routinely slapped, beaten, starved, and made to feel like a thing, rather than a person.

Saddleman recalls being sexually abused by a priest who claimed to be searching him for lice or sores. Him and his fellow students were forced to cut their hair, insulted on their looks, and told they wouldn’t amount to anything. The abuse was constant, and followed Saddleman for years after.

“All the fear, shame, and anger, I car ried it when I went home. I was drinking, I did drugs, and I got really bad. I would get up at 5 in the morning and start drinking. I never saw a bathtub for months,” said Saddleman.

“I hit rock bottom, as they say, and I tried to commit suicide. I stabbed myself in the ribs, and I held a gun under my chin. Then I thought, if I ever succeeded in killing myself, the residential school and

my sex abuser will walk away laughing. So I changed my life and I sobered up.”

After his time in Residential School and during these personal struggles, when Saddleman thought he had lost his voice completely, he found a new way to speak out loud: his writing. He began to upgrade his education in 1993, when he completed his Grade 12 equivalence and discovered his knack for writing. Saddleman says this was a trying experience, having only a Grade 5 education from 10 years at KIRS. He initially didn’t believe his teachers when they complimented his writing, cit ing years of insults and emotional abuse around his intelligence while at KIRS.

Saddleman often uses the name Word Warrior, a testament to his strength and perseverance, but also a promise to those who can no longer speak for themselves.

“I’ve been writing for 25 years to release one book, called Word Warrior. I speak for those who can’t tell their residen tial school stories, and for Mother Earth. It’s always been a dream of mine to be on APTN, so it’s finally going to happen. I think about the unmarked graves, and they need to be heard also,” added Saddleman.

Remembering the Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation will be live on APTN on September 30, from 10AM to 11AM Pacific Standard Time. Saddleman is scheduled to give his remarks approximately halfway through the ceremony.

Albas MP

Okanagan Similkameen Nicola

Community Engagement Sessions

Izaiah Reyes

NEWSROOM@MERRITTHERALD.COM

The value of copper in the modern age has increased as it establishes a role in both the energy and health indus tries. Teck’s Highland Valley Copper Operations (HVC) has been a great source for the material but with the current mine life extending only to 2028, proposals have been made to push the operations until 2040. The extension would provide an

additional 1.95 million tonnes of copper while creating socioeconomic benefits for the surrounding First Nations communi ties.

HVC is located 17 kilometres west of Logan Lake. Approximately 1,300 jobs are generated annually by HVC, creating an estimate of $185 million in wages and benefits. The economy of areas surround ing HVC benefits from close to $137 mil lion on local goods and services. The site

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HVC representatives and community members discuss community input on HVC operations. Izaiah Reyes/Herald

also resulted in a $75 million contribution to municipal and provincial taxes.

Up to $800 million in total economic benefits are generated by the operation and it looks to extend from its 2028 end period.

The site is currently in its PreApplication phase of the B.C. Environmental Assessment (EA) process. Through the process, HVC is engaging with local communities and Indigenous Governments.

“HVC respects that we are operating within the Nlaka’pamux Nation’s terri tory,” said Teck in its conversation with the Herald. “We value our partnership with the Lower Nicola Indian Band and will continue to work to achieve free, prior and informed consent for our activities in their territory.”

Teck hosted a Community Engagement Session at Shulus Hall on September 22-23. The mining company invited community members to learn more about the plans with HVC 2040.

The two day session included discus sions on tailings storage facilities, water management, and reclamation. There was also a panel available on both days for Q&A and presentation on the EA over view.

“They’re further development is pend ing on community, so you have to listen,”

said LNIB Elder Doreen Sterling. “I think right now is the time to listen.”

Sterling recalls a previous engagement experience with HVC when she partici pated in a tour which gave community members a chance to see the operations, ask questions, and ultimately learn more about what’s happening with the mines.

“I saw, up close, all of the things that were happening and had the opportunity to share some information. Most of it was about reclamation on the areas that they’ve finished using,” she recalled.

“We made comments and it seems like they are doing it and this event seems like another opportunity to take a look again and have a better understanding. I feel like they’re listening.”

Attendees at the engagement event were given a free meal for each session and had the opportunity to enter in a prize draw.

“This week’s community engagement events are part of our ongoing work to update the Lower Nicola Indian Band (LNIB) on the status of HVC 2040 and receive feedback and input on the project,” said Teck.

“The Project would allow HVC to continue to collaborate with Indigenous Governments and Organizations, includ ing the Lower Nicola Indian Band, to deliver economic and social benefits, and advance reconciliation efforts.”

Tina House on reporting about Indigenous injustices

career very admirable.

Through covering issues such as resi dential schools and Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), the award-winning journalist had faced countless horrors that could make oth ers quit on the job. However through her persistence, she has not only covered these sensitive issues but has also been awarded and recognized because of it. Now, she looks to leverage the growth in her audi ence to reach more people and make them aware of the Indigenous plight.

Tina House is a video journalist for APTN National News. She credits her strong lineage of great leaders as inspira tion for becoming the highly decorated reporter she is today. Her grandmother, Anne House, was a co-founder of the BC Association of Non-Status Indians, the first Metis political movement in the province. Her father, the late Fred House, became president of the same group back in the 1970’s.

Izaiah Reyes

NEWSROOM@MERRITTHERALD.COM

It takes an incredible amount of for titude to get work done when a person is emotionally compromised. The ability to

compartmentalize emotions and feelings in order to finish a job is, universally, an asset. Not many people can say that they were able to do their job at the highest level while dealing with something as per sonal as death, which makes Tina House’s

“I used to watch my dad on TV and now I’m on there as well so it played a large role into what I do now,” said House.

House also credits her successful career to her mother, Melba Sterling, who was also an active community leader.

“I really pay tribute to my mom

because she’s been my rock and she’s been by my side throughout everything.”

It was 2007 when started at APTN. The first high profile stories she did was a coverage on the Robert Pickton trials. Pickton is considered one of the most notorious serial killers in Canada’s history.

“That’s when I first really got involved and meeting family members and going to the court everyday, and telling really heartfelt stories of the family members.” House recalled.

”I felt that as an Indigenous journalist, they brought me into the fold a little closer than non-Indigenous journalists and I was really thankful for that.”

House described that early period in her career as an “incredibly charged time.”

“There was so much still that we didn’t know and so much that came out with the trial yet there are so many other cases that didn’t go to trial so there was a lot to talk about there.”

In 2010, House had the opportunity to do a segment on a new show at the network, APTN Investigates, where she put out a 30 min episode on the topic of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). During this

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Tina House was the first reporter to break the news on the mass graves found at the Kamloops residential schools. Photo/Tina House

period there were over 540 girls consid ered officially missing.

“It was an incredible time and I wanted to showcase how many 540 looked like,” said House.

“At the time my own cousin was miss ing. My pitch was the inside story of a family that was desperately looking for a loved one. I can get interviews and insight to the subject matter because it was my own family.”

House initially had only a 10-minute segment but this quickly changed.

“I don’t reveal right away that she’s my cousin, I save that until the very end,” said House.

“It is a very fine line to walk, being a family member and also as a journalist but I wanted to pay her tribute. The producer was blown away by what I put together and he basically gave me the whole halfhour episode.”

Because of her work, House was awarded the 2010 Amnesty International Human Rights Journalism Award for Canada. On top of this, House also orga nized a rally at Crab Park in Vancouver where she and others lit up 540 tea lights.

“Just to see the candles lit up, represent ing a person that was either murdered or missing was such an incredible moment for me.”

MMIWG soon became one of House’s

regular story beats.

“It’s something that we’ve taken great care of and a lot of time has been spent on trying to tell these stories because it’s connected to so much,” House explained.

“What it really comes down to is the attempted genocide of Indigenous People through residential schools. We find that in a lot of these cases that these MMIWG’s are directly tied to residential schools and the trauma that our people suffered.”

Last year, House reported on the 215 bodies uncovered at a former residential school in Kamloops.

“We were the only ones to get exclusive access inside of the former residential school,” House explained.

“We then did interviews with survivors within the school and we were the only network to get that opportunity.”

Through her reporting, House was able to gain a bigger and more global audience.

“I think, when the 215 were first dis covered, it sent shock waves around the world,” said House, who appeared in England numerous times at different news outlets, including BBC news. She also became a guest correspondent at CTV news with Lisa LaFlamme.

“Because of those stories that I was able to tell, it brought a bigger audience to my platform. It really widened our scope to educate the regular Canadian about what is actually happening. That was my

See REPORTER Page 21

Government of Canada supports Orange Shirt Day initiatives

process,” said Minister Pablo Rodriguez, federal minister for Canadian heritage.

“The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a day for solemn remembrance and reflection. The commemoration projects announced today give us the opportunity to begin or continue our learning on the path to reconciliation.”

tutions, and as communities.”

Marius Auer

REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

With Truth and Reconciliation Week underway leading up to Friday’s Orange Shirt Day, the Government of Canada is offering their support to education and commemoration efforts for residential school survivors, victims, and their families. September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and 2022 is the second year Canada recognizes it as a federal holiday.

Truth and Reconciliation Week is a joint effort between the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) and the Government of Canada, with the

week offering educational programming to all schools across the country. This year mark’s the week’s fourth iteration, and the Ministry of Canadian Heritage has provided $4 million in funding supporting 278 local reconciliation initiatives, the educational program, as well as a public gathering in Ottawa to mark the statutory holiday. The Ministry said this is part of an educational effort, raising the awareness of residential schools’ impacts while promoting healing and reconciliation.

“I encourage everyone to take time to recognize the enduring effects of residential schools in Canada and to reflect on the role each of us has in the healing

Throughout Truth and Reconciliation Week, happening this year from September 26 to 29, students from grades K-12 will be offered a number of educational opportunities by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, including discussions on the ongoing impacts of residential schools. The NCTR said that their program hopes to educate students on Canada’s history, calling it an important step on the path to reconciliation.

“Truth and Reconciliation Week is a national gathering for everyone. Indigenous Peoples cannot walk the path of reconciliation alone; each person in Canada must play a part,” said Stephanie Scott, executive director of the NCTR.

“Participating in the week or tuning into the broadcast on September 30 is an opportunity to take a meaningful step in reconciliation by hearing the truth and pausing to reflect on what reconciliation really means for us as individuals, as insti-

This Friday, September 30, the NCTR and Aboriginal Peoples Television Network will partner up to produce and broadcast a program entitled Remembering the Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The special program will honour residential school survivors, their families, their communities, and the children who never made it home. Nicola Valley poet and residential school survivor, Dennis Saddleman, will deliver remarks as part of the event.

Several other projects will also mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, such as commemorative gatherings across Canada, community ceremonies and marches, educational activities, and other initiatives.

“Truth and Reconciliation Week and the second official National Day for Truth and Reconciliation are moments to listen thoughtfully and sincerely to the Survivors as they share their truths so we may build a future for generations to come,” said Eugene Arcand, a Cree man from the Muskeg Lake First Nation and residential school survivor.

To learn more about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, visit www. nctr.ca.

of DEDE

Nicola Valley & District Metis Society

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is Canada’s newest federal holiday, honouring the children that never returned home from residential schools, including survivors and their families. Photo/Government of Canada

As a forgotten people we honour every child, we pray each child is found and returned to their families.

of

Day.

Reporter breaks news about Kamloops

goal from the very beginning, to make it loud and clear what atrocities was happen ing to my people.”

After Kamloops, House headed to Coweness, Saskatchewan to report on the 751 unmarked graves uncovered.

“We arrived the night they were setting up solar lights,” House recalled. “To be in that field and to see those 751 panels light up, it was an incredibly sad and powerful time.”

House was disturbed at the idea of dis covering the graves underneath an ice rink used by kids.

“It’s horrific thinking kids run and play right on top of these graves without even knowing that there were bodies buried there.”

Due to the horrific nature of the issues she covers, House admits that reporting these stories has taken a toll on her.

“I feel like I pay a piece of my soul whenever I do these types of stories,” she explained.

“Personally, I feel sick about some of the things we’re learning about what hap pens to these young kids at residential schools. To also tell stories about the mur dered and missing takes a lot out of me and I’m certainly drained by the end of

the day but I know that I’m doing it for a bigger purpose and I just try to hold my head high, stay strong and focus on what I need to get done.”

This year, House flew to Rome with the Indigenous delegation discussing with the Pope the impacts of residential schools on Indigenous people. There she became a correspondent, doing daily reports.

On April 4, She won Canadian Screen Awards’ best national news reporter title, becoming the first Indigenous journalist with this distinction.

“To be considered the best in the country is such a proud honour for me,” “I’m really thankful and humbled while I acknowledge this with a lot of love for all the supporters I’ve had over the years.”

Through her accomplishments and accolades, House hopes to bring more attention to the issues she reports on to further the discussion on how to deal with it. She believes that there is a lot more that needs to be done as many Canadians are still unaware of the issues Indigenous people face.

“They don’t understand the full impact of residential schools.” “They don’t understand the full impact of what was done to Indigenous people from the very beginning and I think that needs to be addressed in a huge way.”

+ Reconciliation

The City of Merritt recognizes the tragic history of loss by the Canadian residential school system, and supports the recognition of the popularly known Orange Shirt Day as a vital component of reconciliation with our country’s indigenous survivors and their families.

EVERY CHILD MATTERS.

Orange Shirt Day gathering at NVIT

Izaiah Reyes

NEWSROOM@MERRITTHERALD.COM

In recognition of Orange Shirt Day, the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology will be hosting a gathering on Thursday, September 29. The event invites NVIT’s school community, as well as every one from the Nicola Valley to join in the gathering and hear conversations about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

NVIT will be hosting a gathering at the ampitheatre on their Merritt campus, in celebration of Orange Shirt Day. The Institute is inviting Nicola Valley Chiefs, NVIT Elders, staff, and Indigenization Committee members to share their thoughts on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

“NVIT was founded by the five founding bands of the Nicola Valley. The vision of the five founding bands is

Story

Orange Shirt Day 2021 gathering at NVIT’s Burnaby campus. Photo/NVIT

From Page 22

reinforced through the emerging land scape to Indigenize education through the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), the adoption of the United Nations Declaration of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP), said NVIT President Ken Tourand.

“As BC’s Indigenous Public Post Secondary Institution, we have a respon sibility to demonstrate leadership when it comes to Indigenous gatherings such as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation ceremony.”

Tourand will also be appearing at the gathering, giving his remarks at the open ing ceremony.

“Working with our Elders and local Chiefs, NVIT will be hosting a gathering for our students, staff, and the community at large to gather to recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day). The atrocities of the residential school system, and the finding of the 215+ at T’kemlups te Secwepemc has directly impacted NVIT’s community. Every Child Matters and we invite the community of Merritt to join us on September 29 from 10:30am-1:00pm at our amphitheater for our Orange Shirt Day gathering.”

The event will also feature a ceremonial fire at the NVIT fire pit, hand drumming

led by Willard Wallace, prayers led by NVIT Elders, and an Orange Shirt Day video presentation. Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly will be attending and assisting with planning of the gathering.

“NVIT took the lead this time around and CNA is just happy to be present,” said CNA Program Coordinator Virginia Aspinall. “We’ve got some stuff going up and we’ll be there throughout the day just to help welcome everybody and just be part of the gathering.”

Earlier in May, CNA held a similar gathering event at NVIT’s ampitheatre. The event was to recognize the one year mark since the uncovering of the mass graves underneath Kamloops residential schools.

“My vision for gatherings like this, for days like September 30, is really just providing a space for people to come to a safe space,” Aspinall said. “We heal better together than alone and I would like that togetherness to be fostered for the day.”

NVIT’s Burnaby campus will also be hosting a similar gathering. The Orange Shirt Day gathering will happen September 29, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is open to everyone in the com munity. Attendees are invited to join in the hand drumming, and story telling. Lunch will be provided by NVIT for the event. For any questions or more information on how to speak at this gathering, please email events@nvit.ca.

“A day to honour the many innocent victims and sur vivors of the Canadian Indian Residential Schools and to start building a better world for future generations, based on mutual respect, honesty, integrity and good will.”

Nooaitch

SD58’s Orange Shirt Day activities

Izaiah Reyes NEWSROOM@MERRITTHERALD.COM

Rooted in the experience of residen tial school survivors, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation or more commonly called ‘Orange Shirt Day’ is commemorated every 30th of September as a means to honour survivors and to continue Canada’s path to Truth and Reconciliation.

With educational institutions being directly involved with the origins of this day of awareness, School District 58 Superintendent Steve McNiven and the rest of his administration team have pre pared numerous events and activities for students falling under their jurisdiction.

“We as a school district need to rec ognize that we have been a tool used for colonization and there has been a lot of trauma and hurt as a result of that,” he explained. “Now, we need to be part of the solution towards reconciliation.”

Schools within SD58 such as John Alison Elementary School, Vermilion Forks Elementary School, and Nicola Canford Elementary School are partaking in the activities for Orange Shirt Day.

The schools will do awareness walks, art projects, cultural activities like hand

drumming and making bannock, as well as presentations on Metis culture, residen tial schools, and Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit (MMIWG2S).

“As a school district, we are focused on Truth and Reconciliation which involves many events and activities each of our schools are providing,” said SD58’s Director of Instruction for Aboriginal Education Shelley Oppenheim-Lacerte.

“In teaching and bringing awareness to both our students and staff, we have First Nations support workers that serve the varying skill and interest levels by provid ing some of the presentations or events.”

Oppenheim-Lacerte added that it is important to meet the students at their respective levels of skills and interests so that the teachings may be better received.

“We look at the broader picture of Truth and Reconciliation Council (TRC) and see many connections,” she explained. “Activities and events are not just pre sented in one way because because there’s just so many teachings that connect to the TRC and Orange Shirt Day.”

In the Nicola Valley, Merritt Secondary School, Nicola Canford Elementary School, Merritt Central Elementary School, and Diamond Vale Elementary School are all doing awareness walks to commemorate Orange Shirt Day while Bench Elementary School will have an assembly which features dance perfor mances, poems, and presentations.

“I think it’s important to note that it isn’t just one day or one week that we work on our path towards reconciliation,” said McNiven. “That work takes place throughout the year and, for our school district, it’s one of the top priorities in our strategic plan.”

McNiven also notes that the whole community should be involved with the process of healing rather than just the Indigenous members of the community be involved alone.

“We’re really proud of the work that’s going on and the initiatives that the dif ferent schools are taking,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do.”

Orange Shirt Day 2021 at Merritt Secondary School. Photo/SD58

lunch at