Downie Wenjack Legacy Schools Project 2018-2019

The Secret Path Film Presentation: April 29, 2019 OnApril29,2019,theNVSDIndigenousEducationTeamhostedacommunityscreeningoftheBilm,TheSecretPath,atCentennialTheatreinNorthVancouver.

SixschoolsarecurrentlyparticipatingintheDownieWenackLegacyProject.TheDownieWenjackLegacySchoolsProjectisaprogramthatprovides“opportunityforclassrooms/schoolstoleadthemovementinawarenessofthehistoryandimpactoftheResidentialSchoolSystemonIndigenousPeoples”(downiewenjack.ca).NorthVancouverSchoolDistrictwashonouredandgreatlyhumbledthatMikeDownie,fromtheDownieWenjackLegacyFoundationwasinattendanceforthisspecialevening.TheNVSDIndigenousEducationteambelievesthatthroughthreepathwaysofeducation:students,staffandcommunity,thatagreaterunderstandingofthetruthandthesharedresponsibilitytowardsreconciliation.

Theeveningeventwaswellattendedwith576intheaudience,includingstaff,studentsandcommunitymembers.

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North Vancouver School District

Downie Wenjack Legacy Schools Project

WewouldliketothanktheCoastSalishpeople,speci5icallytheSkwxwú7meshNationandTsleil-WaututhNation,whoseuncededtraditionalterritorytheNorthVancouverSchoolDistrictresideson.Wevaluethe

opportunitytolearn,shareandgrowonthistraditionalterritory.

TheeveningbeganwithopeningremarksbyBradBaker,NVSDDistrictPrincipalofIndigenousEducationandatraditionalwelcomebyVinceWhite,DistrictPrincipalLearningServices:InclusiveEducation.NVSDstaffincludingSuperintendentMarkPearmain,AssistantSuperintendentsPiusRyanandChrisAtkinson,andDirectorofInstruction,ArleneMartinallsharedaboutprofessionalandpersonalgrowthandunderstandingsofIndigenoushistoryandtheimpactsofresidentialschools.

Throughouttheeveningstudentsandcommunitymembersalsosharedpersonalstoriesandsong.StewartGonzales,SquamishNation,aIndianResidentialSchoolSurvivor,sharedhispersonalexperiencesofattendingbothIndianDaySchoolandIndianResidentialSchool.Stewart’swordswerepowerful,impactfulanddeeplymoving.

TheCarsonGrahamChoirsharedtheCoastSalishAnthemandOhCanada,whileMountainsideStudentEmmaJeffreysangtwooriginalsongs.TheWindsorChoirsangtheTragicallyHipsong,AheadbyACenturyandTheSecretPath.

MikeDownie,fromtheDownieWenjackLegacyProjectalsosharedhisthoughtsandpersonalexperienceswithTheSecretPathandmovingforwardwithhisbrotherGordDownie’svisionforabettercommunityandcountrywhounderstandandacknowledgethehistoryandimpactsofresidentialschoolsandaretakingaction.

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Windsor Secondary Choir

Carson Graham Secondary Choir

School Visits with Mike Downie TherearecurrentlysixschoolsparticipatingintheDownieWenjackLegacyProject.ÉcoleWindsorSecondary,Norgate-Xwemélch’stn,Ns7e’yxnitmlaTel:’wetWestview,Carisbrooke,ÉcoleSherwoodParkandRidgewayElementary.

AspartofMikeDownie’svisittoNorthVancouverSchoolDistrictforthescreeningofTheSecretPath,MikeDownietookthetimetovisitthesixschoolswhoarecurrentlyparticipatingintheDownieWenjackLegacyProject.Mr.Downiehadtheopportunitytohearfromstudentsaboutwhattheyhavelearnedandtheirpersonalunderstandingsofthehistoryandimpactsofresidentialschooling.

Norgate Xwemélch’stn, Ns7e’yxnitm la Tel:’wet Westview, and École Sherwood Park.

OnMondayApril29,2019,schoolvisitsincludedNorgateXwemélch’stn,Ns7e’yxnitmlaTel:’wetWestview,andÉcoleSherwoodPark.AtNorgate,RobSmyth,PrincipalandstudentswelcomedMr.DowniewithabreakfastreceptionandstudentssharedabouttheirpersonalreBlections.Mabel-LeonaNahaneesharedasongandpersonalreBlectionswhichwasfollowedbytheNorgrateDrumGroup.

AtNs7e’yxnitmlaTel:’wetWestviewstudentsalsosharedtheirpersonalrefectionsandunderstandings,includingtheirartandpoetry.WyattSkyepresentedhisrapcalledResidential.MikeDowniewasjoinedatWestviewbyIndianResidentialSchoolsurvivorandartistCharlesJospeh.

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Mike Downie at Norgate Xwemélch’stn

Intheafternoon,Grade7’sfromÉcoleSherwoodParklistenedtoMikeDownieandCharlersJospehandalsosharedtheirunderstandingsandlearningfromparticipatingintheDownieWenjackLegacyProject.ÉcoleSherwoodParkgiftedMikeDownieadrum,paintedbyFNSWGordonDick.

Carisbrooke, Ridgeway and Windsor

OnTuesday,April30th,SchoolVisitsincludedCarisbrooke,RidgewayandWindsorSecondary.AtCarisbrooke,Mr.Downiewaswelcomedwithaschoolassemblyandgallerywalkofstudentwork.SarahMazzeiandherstudentsatRidgewaysharedtheirlearningsthroughcircleandpresentedMr.Downiewithagiftcreatedbystudents.AtWindsorstudentsmetwithMikeDownieandCharlesJosephinthetheatreforaconversation,songandthenstudentssharedtheirwork.

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Carisbrooke Elementary

Ridgeway Elementary Windsor Secondary

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Go Forward with

Courage