ReconciliACTION in Chinook's Edge

Advancing Indigenous Education in our schools

Schools throughout Chinook's Edge are working to support the division-wide priority to advance Indigenous Education. In doing so, we honour our Indigenous students and families, while building on the foundational knowledge of all students and staff so that we understand the history, culture and contributions of Indigenous Canadians.

 

The Chinook's Edge Indigenous Learning Team is guiding this work: (back left in photo) Patrick Mitsuing (Indigenous Education Coordinator, Learning Services), Carolynne Muncer (Principal, Poplar Ridge School), (front row) Leslie Cooper-Shand (Principal, River Valley School), and Karyn Barber (Associate Superintendent, System Services).

Installing Treaty Flags

To honour the division’s ongoing commitment to:

• ensure a welcoming culture for Indigenous students and families through the use of a symbol that is vital to them;
• embrace Indigenous Learning for all students and staff;
• continue with this next step in our reconciliation work.

Administrative Teams from each school in the division were present for an Indigenous Flag ceremony in January. Elders from Treaty 6, Treaty 7 and the Métis Nation performed their own time-honoured ceremony for multiple flags of the nations they represent, so that each Chinook's Edge school is ready to install their own Indigenous flags inside their schools this spring.

"Each of us took an individual path to be here today, but we come together with open hearts and minds, listening ad learning from one another. We share a vision of compassion and understanding which extends beyond those of us in this room, to each student in our school division."    - Karyn Barber, Associate Superintendent

Here is a video summary of the Flag Ceremony event: 

Installing Treaty flags is encouraged by such groups as Alberta School Councils’ Association and Alberta Teachers’ Association

Please click here for more information

Welcome from Superintendent Kurt Sacher

Superintendent Sacher thanked the many people whose work came to fruition at the Flag Ceremony. Their efforts support all students and everyone throughout the division.

"Today is a historic moment for our school division. It is one filled with tremendous pride, as we continue to make authentic steps forward with respect to truth and reconciliation. At the same time, we are deeply committed to making close to 900 Indigenous students in our school division feel welcome, cared for, and proud of who they are," said Superintendent Sacher.

"What I am most proud of is that each year I find our teachers and our administrators embracing Indigenous learning in our schools, to ensure that all of our 11,000 students and their families are joining us in this historic process.

"This is a critically important journey, and I want to thank our Indigenous Learning team, our administrators and staff, and our Board. In Chinook's Edge, our actions will always speak louder than our words."