In the early days of this school year, our staff explored ways to ensure that the learning regarding truth and reconciliation were not limited to the week leading up to Orange Shirt Day and our National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. We were happy with the amazing learning experiences our educators created for our students and our community, but we believed that the work to make things right for our students and families of First Nations must become a way of being each and every day here at Woodward. We must teach our students of the hardships and injustices the Indigenous children and families faced, including the tragic Residential School experiences they endured, and we must also honour and celebrate the rich culture and contributions of the people of First Nations descent in Canada. We believe that Woodward is an inclusive and caring community, but we also know that we can strive to do better for our Indigenous learners, and for all of the students, staff and families in our community.

In September, we formed a Planning Committee to create learning experiences for Orange Shirt Day and to plan our Truth and Reconciliation Assembly. (A description of this event was posted in our Evidence Post earlier this year.) This Planning Committee decided to stay together - and formed an Inquiry Focus Group looking at ways to infuse Truth and Reconciliation practices into daily life in our school. This includes daily Land Acknowledgements during our morning announcements, and the teaching of conversational phrases and greetings in the local Hunq'e'min'en' language group. The Inquiry Group applied for and was accepted for an Inquiry Grant to explore this area of learning more deeply and broadly. On November 2nd, they attended a District Inquiry Grant Launch and met teams from other schools also interested in Truth and Reconciliation as a professional focus. 

Our Inquiry Focus question is..."How can we incorporate Indigenous values and First Peoples' Principles of Learning into our teaching and learning - and our way of life - at Woodward this year?"

We look forward to learning more about the cultures of our Indigenous people, and celebrating the rich and vibrant traditions and celebrations of the First Nations in this community, and finding ways to bring the values and principles of learning of the First People into our classrooms.