Project of Heart

If you think that nothing ever changes, the  you are going to want to check out this creative and inspiring project.  Project of Heart  (POH) was created in 2008 by Sylvia Smith, an Ottawa teacher who wanted to commemorate the lives of thousands of indigenous children who died as a result of the Indian residential school experience.  The project was taken up by Ministries of Education and school boards across Canada and now thousands of schools have participated in this important part of Canada's history.

Artwork of students at Stayner Collegiate Institute in Onario

Project of Heart engages students in “a deeper exploration of indigenous traditions in Canada and the history of Indian residential schools.  It is a journey for understanding through the heart and spirit as well as facts and dates.” (POH website)

The website lists six steps of Project of Heart.  The first step is to investigate the history and legacy of the Indian Residential Schools (IRS) in Canada.  The second step is to look in an in-depth way into one specific IRS and the children who were taken there.  

Students create tiles as a gesture of reconciliation

Step three is to create a gesture of reconciliation.  For this gesture, the website has instructions on art projects with tiles, feather wreaths, creating a song, a film or a video and other ideas. 

Examples of feather wreaths

 Step four involves a visit from a survivor of an IRS and listening to this elder tell their story.  

IRS Survivors visit with students

Step five is a social justice action.  The website has a good list of possibilities so that action is taken so the students can be a part of the solution.  The final step is to share the experience on the POH website and other forms of media.

There is no shortage of creative projects shared on the website.  Here, Orange Shirt Day in Williams Lake, BC in 2013.  This day was created to honour the story of a woman who remembered having her shiny new orange shirt taken away on her first day of school at St. Joseph Mission residential school.

This program not only informs the students about history, but also allows them to deal with the injustices by offering gestures of reconciliation and empowers them in taking action as well.

The website has many pictures and descriptions of projects that students ranging from Grade 4 to University have completed.  Grade 6 students from an elementary school in Barrie, Ontario created tiles that reflected their learning which were attached to a round table which now resides in the learning commons of their school.  It is available for groups who need to arrive at a consensus or for people who are in need of a restorative session.  

On National Aboriginal Day, June 21^st of 2015, Grade 4 students from Langley, BC and secondary students from Byrne Creek created heart gardens.  The hearts were decorated in memory of those affected by the IRS.  Some of the hearts were sent to the closing ceremony of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to be a part of the 1000 hearts from across Canada which were "planted" at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.

Details from the Heart Gardens

Students in Moose Jaw describe their plans for a permanent Heart Garden in this video.
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Grade 8 students from Shaunessy Park created a video to share what they learned, their wishes, apologies and promises.  You can view it here.

If you take the time to look at some of this amazing creativity and heart felt wishes coming from the next generations, you can get a glimpse of reconciliation in action.  You may be inspired to join them in your own way and be a part in writing our new story.