Last week thirty-two Youth Council for Reconciliation members from across the division came together in High Prairie to participate in 'Still I Rise,' a virtual event hosted by Ever Active Schools. This event focused on celebrating Indigenous stories, fostering resilience for Indigenous youth, and encouraging reconciliation.
Speakers included Kendra Rosychuk of Sucker Creek First Nation, Hannah Nash of Winnipeg, and Ihkitopi/ Laine Breaker of Siksika Nation in Alberta.
Throughout the day, students engaged in presentations and activities and collaborated in groups. The goal of the HPSD's Indigenous Education team was to create unity at a divisional level for the students who attended and to show them that there are students from other places that are working to be leaders in reconciliation. Now, HPSD's students are focusing on setting short-term goals that align with their schools' long-term goals for reconciliation.
Indigenous Education Lead Diane Bellerose was struck by the students' willingness to come together during the team activities, interact so positively, laugh, and share openly. As well, the ideas that the students came up with around "What does reconciliation look like from your perspective" were astute. "Students/ youth know what is fair and right, and they also know what needs to happen to create positive change," noted Diane.