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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