Blog Posts

As we continue to learn of more unmarked graves at the sites of former Residential Schools, we wanted to share resources with schools and families that might help with learning more and sharing this information with students. 

Be gentle, walk with kindness, look after each other. 

Please reach out to the District Aboriginal Education team for ideas or support. We are here. 

January 12, 2023

Re: New Indigenous-focused Graduation Requirement

From all of us in the Aboriginal Education department, we wanted to wish everyone a happy and healthy start to 2023. 

We know that this time of year can bring challenges and we wanted to share some resources that we thought might be helpful as we pull through winter. Check out these resources here and feel free to reach out any time for additional ideas. 

Happy 2023! 

Read the Superintendent's Report each month on the website for: 

• Learning - updates from schools on activities, events and successes 
• Examples of organizational excellence from SD8 leaders and departments
• Stories about relationships and engagement with SD8 communities

View the Superintendent's Report for January 2023

Winter moves us to gather around fires, in our lodges and cozy under warm blankets at home. We settle in to listen to stories, the words of Elders and story tellers. We listen to the stories of our Ancestors who have been on these Lands since time immemorial. We listen to the stories from the last year. Those stories of success are celebrated and the stories of loss are held in comfort.

Read the Superintendent's Report each month on the website for: 

• Learning - updates from schools on activities, events and successes 
• Examples of organizational excellence from SD8 leaders and departments
• Stories about relationships and engagement with SD8 communities

View the Superintendent's Report for December 2022

Truth and Reconciliation week was special at Salmo Elementary School.  Not only was there an amazing display of support through the display of Orange Shirts, but there was a softness among the primary students, and a depth of curiosity and understanding among the intermediate grades. The experiences shared in all the classrooms and at the assembly, were incredibly rewarding this year.

Louis Riel Day at Homelinks Creston 

In this week’s Aboriginal Education learning event, K-12 students at Homelinks Creston enjoyed pahkwesikan, Metis bannock in honor of Louis Riel Day. 

One student writes:

Tawnshi/Tanshi!

November is Metis Awareness Month in SD8! 

We've got a number of exciting plans to celebrate Metis culture. 

Online offerings: (email danica.weager@sd8.bc.ca for links to join) 

Monday November 7 from 8:45 to 9:30am PST

• Speaker: JD Hawk – Metis Artist
• Suggested grades: 6 and up
• Topics: Metis identity and history, Eagle Feather story, Artwork, and the Truth and Reconciliation Keepsake Coin