Remembering Stones

I am copying information from an e-mail that I received from the Downey-Wenjack Fund regarding a new Legacy School.  I thought that this was a great example of the creativity and collaboration that is telling the new story of reconciliation in Canada.

“Our newest addition to the Legacy Schools program Roseneath Centennial Public School received a very special visit from Chanie Wenjack’s sisters Pearl, Daisy, Evelyn and their family in January. Mr. Reid’s grade 8 class have been working hard on the Remembering Stone project. Students and staff were honoured to meet the family and tell them about what they have learned about Residential Schools.

From Mr. Reid:”

“Over the past several years we have been learning about Residential Schools from Melody Crowe who is our KPRDSB First Nations Liaison. We learned about the 6000+ First Nations, Metis and Inuit children who lost their futures in that system and how it had affected her family as well. We were looking for another way to present the ideas and I found The Secret Path Book and video and students were very engaged. We have been using it as a way to access the information in conjunction with Melody's teachings. I felt, over the years, when I said that "6000+ students lost their future in residential schools", my students weren't seeing the enormity of the number of deaths. I told them it was equivalent to approximately 250 classrooms. That still didn't seem visual enough so when I was driving into school one day I thought that if students could create something upon reflection of their learning and we could have a permanent reminder then students could see what 6000 looked like. The teachers of Roseneath Centennial PS jumped at the chance to create the Remembering Stone Project and each classroom contributed lessons and "Stones". Soon after other schools heard about the project and they have been teaching about Residential Schools and contributing Remembering Stones to the wall of honour too. The Secret Path is an integral part of the learning. My students knew Pearl and Daisy Wenjack before they entered our classroom for a visit. Chanie Wenjack gives us a symbol of the degradation of family, culture and language and how the Residential School system was a shameful part of history on this land."

The Wenjack family hung a stone on the memorial to remember Chanie, the day before what would have been, Chanie’s 65th birthday.

Mr. Reid can be contacted for lesson plans, and shipping information via email: philip_reid@kprdsb.ca

You can see more photos of this project here.  By focusing on the great work that many people are doing and celebrating their creativity, we will also be inspired in our own lives.  We are all a part of this new story!