Surrey Schools staff learning about truth and reconciliation on Pro D day

Educators from across the district are participating in a variety of workshops on Monday, Sept. 27, to learn about Indigenous history and culture, leading up to the first-ever National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

The Aboriginal Learning department at Surrey Schools is supporting several professional development workshops on the Sept. 27 non-instructional day, including:

• Staff at Clayton Heights Secondary, Elgin Park Secondary, various learning centres and Indigenous staff from across the district are attending two presentations at the Katzie First Nation longhouses in Pitt Meadows to learn how the residential school system affected the Katzie First Nation.
• Aboriginal Learning will facilitate a drum-making workshop for staff at Simon Cunningham Elementary.
• Frank Hurt Secondary will host a presentation on the role of education and reconciliation.
• Kennedy Trail Elementary staff will hear a talk about Indigenous pedagogy and learn about resources for schools.

"Now more than ever, it is important to educate our staff on these historical injustices so that they may share their knowledge with current and future generations of students," said Laurie Larsen, chair of the Surrey Board of Education. "The Board is committed to ensuring the history of Indigenous People is taught in our classrooms so our students understand the lasting, intergenerational impact of residential schools."

"The mandate from the B.C. Ministry of Education was to have one non-instructional day focused on Indigenous learning, and a lot of schools are taking up that call to do something," said Juanita Coltman, principal of Aboriginal Learning. "I think the work that needs to be done in this area is ongoing, it's continuous, and it's great that the Ministry is supporting that and we have another day to focus on that."

Outside of Aboriginal Learning, some schools have organized their own Indigenous learning events for professional development, such as contacting elders or community members to speak to staff.

There are also a number of virtual workshops available during the week, including sessions hosted by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, a learning series on The Whole Truth About Residential Schools, and events on reconciliation and Secret Path Week by the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund.

Coltman stressed the importance of principals and teachers being aware of and knowledgeable about Indigenous history as they may be called upon to discuss residential schools in the classroom, and to approach such topics with sensitivity.

"The work of reconciliation involves everyone," she said. "Indigenous people themselves cannot educate everyone on the true history and the importance of cultural ways of knowing, being and doing. We need the support of the school system to educate our students - that's the work to be done in reconciliation, to raise awareness and understanding."