NPSC Honours National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Through Student-Led Initiatives
Posted on 10/02/2023
Students, staff and community members from the Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board (NPSC) honoured, respected and recognized the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation last week.
Occurring on September 30 each year, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Commemoration of this painful piece of Canada’s history is a vital component of reconciliation, which we support in our NPSC Truth and Reconciliation Action Plan. "Orange Shirt Day” also occurs on September 30 and was honoured in all of our NPSC school throughout the week. This day serves to recognize the legacy of the residential school system and its impacts on generations of Indigenous persons in Canada.
Students and staff from all schools at the Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board engaged in a variety of educational activities that focused on raising awareness and learning about the history of residential schools in Canada while honouring residential school survivors, through thoughtful reflection and deepening dialogue on actions our school communities can take each day to illuminate our shared journey in Truth and Reconciliation.
Indigenous Student Advisory group, Mkwa Doodem at St. Joseph-Scollard Hall Catholic Secondary School (SJSH), passionately facilitated an educational presentation to all students in Grades 9 - 12 dedicated to recognizing the significance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and featured guest speaker Sergeant Chantal Larocque of the Anishinabek Police Service. Sergeant Larocque told students that change begins in our own communities, highlighting how she went from Mattawa to West Nipissing, uplifting both communities, while excelling as a role model for Indigenous youths across the region.
At Our Lady of Sorrows School (OLS), residential school survivor Judy Couchie met and spoke with students and staff to share about her life and how she lives each day recounting her residential school experience, while focusing on the future and emphasizing the importance of reconciliation. Students and staff engaged in a drum and dance circle to embrace Judy, centered around healing, and supporting one another.
Various recognition activities were held across the Board, which included school smudging ceremonies, orange shirt days, educational assemblies, and community gatherings to learn from and honour residential school survivors.
These activities contributed to making truth and reconciliation a reality across all schools; in hopes that everyone can continue to walk forward together.
“We have been humbled as a system to unite in remembrance, education, and prayer to acknowledge the lives lost and all those impacted by residential schools. All of us at NPSC continue to embrace our shared responsibility to the ongoing journey of truth and reconciliation each day to foster understanding, respect, and healing for future generations.” shares Director of Education, Paula Mann.
NPSC continues to keep all of those affected by residential schools in our thoughts and prayers, for peace and healing.