Josie Saddleback dances at Medicine Hat College earlier this year.--NEWS PHOTO SAMANTHA JOHNSON
reporter@medicinehatnews.com
Previously, schools within the Medicine hat Catholic Board of Education have individually held celebrations and learnings during the week leading up to Orange Shirt Day and National Day of Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30.
This year marks a decade since Orange Shirt Day was established as an observance, and MHCBE wanted to acknowledge that milestone with division-wide activities. However, gathering all students at one time in a single space wasn’t feasible, so schools have partnered for age-appropriate experiences.
“This year we’ve planned an experience for all kids from kindergarten to Grade 12; different experiences in a large, event-style assembly,” explained Hugh Lehr, the associate superintendent of learning services at Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education. “We wanted to do something more, something bigger.”
On Thursday morning students from St. Patrick’s will join those at Notre Dame for dancing by Josie Saddleback, followed by stories, songs and pre-made Bannock with Treva Eagle.
In the afternoon, Mother Teresa, St. Micheal’s and St. Francis students will travel to Monsignor McCoy High School to hear Treva Eagle, have a Bannock-making demonstration and participate in a round dance. On Friday afternoon, students at St. Louis will bus to John Paul II for the same experience.
On Friday morning, students from Notre Dame, St. Mary’s and McCoy will gather at the Cypress Centre to hear Bertha Wirch talk about residential schools, and her son Walter will speak about intergenerational trauma. Treva Eagle will follow with a short presentation.
“It’s about managing for every kid to have an experience, but getting them in one location is the biggest challenge. That is why we had to do it over four different sessions. This way, everyone gets something,” stated Lehr.
Students at each school in the division will also be creating orange shirt designs.
“With an orange shirt on a paper they are going to write a few words in Cree and then put them up in the school in either the shape of an eagle or the shape or an orange T-shirt,” said Lehr.
Educational and other cultural activities are taking place throughout the week within each classroom and school.
