Students and staff across the St. Clair Catholic District School Board came together Sept. 30 to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, honouring residential school survivors, their families and those who never returned home.
Students wore orange shirts, took part in learning activities and engaged with Indigenous partners to deepen their understanding of truth and reconciliation.
Grade 6 to 8 students from Holy Family, Christ the King and Sacred Heart Port Lambton attended the Wallaceburg Healing Walk, beginning at the Wallaceburg Library and concluding at Civic Square Park. There, students and staff listened to residential school survivors and their families share their stories, and students presented survivors with handmade gifts and cards.
About 450 senior students from St. Angela Merici, St. Teresa of Calcutta, Monsignor Uyen and St. Joseph’s Tilbury, along with classes from Ursuline College Chatham, attended a screening of the film “Meadowlarks” at the Capitol Theatre in Chatham. The film tells the story of four Cree siblings who were separated during the Sixties Scoop and reunited as adults. Following the film, St. Joseph’s hosted a special presentation of art for action with Cedric, Sandra and Leighann Isaac of Bkejwanong Territory.
Students at St. Michael Brights Grove heard from Jason Simon, a former NHL player, intergenerational school survivor and member of Aamjiwnaang First Nation.
On Monday, St. Elizabeth students attended the unveiling of the Residential Schools Monument at Walpole Island.
The board also holds Truth and Reconciliation Weeks from Sept. 21 to Oct. 2, during which students hear from Indigenous speakers and explore Indigenous histories, cultures and perspectives in the classroom.
