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JANUARY 3, 2023 -- Winston Knoll Collegiate students participated in a collaborative art piece as part of their actions towards reconciliation.

Project of Heart art collaboration is an inquiry-based, hands-on artistic journey of seeking the truth about the history of Indigenous people in Canada. Krista Sherman, the Indigenous Advocate at Winston Knoll, spent time with all students teaching them the history and legacy of residential schools in Canada and commemorating the lives of the thousands of Indigenous children who died as a result of the experience, but also remembering the survivors. Students were encouraged to paint a symbol, image or word that represents reconciliation to them.

DECEMBER 23, 2022 -- The Grade 12 Leadership Pathway team, led by Quinn Anderson at Scott Collegiate, and the mamawi kakaskihtânânaw - Together we can student group, led by Cynthia Penner at The Crescents School, recently gathered to learn and share with each other.

The Pathway team created activities to engage the mamawi kakaskihtânânaw group. Students introduced themselves, sometimes using their first languages such as Saulteaux and Cree. As part of the introduction, some students also chose to identify which nation they came from, which inspired other students to find out which nation they came from. The energy was fantastic, and the Scott-Crescents student collaboration is going to continue throughout the year because the students asked for it!

DECEMBER 20, 2022 -- This is the time of seasonal festivity for many in our society. However, those of us working in schools have seen the firsthand effect of insufficiency on many students and their families. CUPE 3766, representing over 700 10-month support staff, wanted to share the true spirit of Christmas joy to help ease the burden on some of Regina Public Schools’ families.

This year, the Social Committee planned a few fun events to bring together staff, students and the wider Regina community.

DECEMBER 20, 2022 -- On Tuesday, December 6th, a group of 18 Balfour Arts Collective (BAC) students were invited to volunteer at the Light the Lights event hosted by the City of Regina at City Hall. This yearly event is open to the public and is a gathering to celebrate the coming of the winter/holiday season. The event includes local performers, hot chocolate, tasty treats, outdoor activities and even a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Best of all, Regina residents can watch as the City Hall trees get lit up in ceremony.

NOVEMBER 23, 2022 -- The beginning of the new school year came very fast, and planning for a new land-based learning experience for students was exceptional. It is hard work to ensure students learn and achieve curriculum outcomes and indicators while also infusing the experience with Indigenous content.

The students at Albert Community School had the same experiences that staff had on their Professional Development (PD) day. Students were able to help finish raising a tipi, learn Indigenous games, smudge, make their own bannock over an open fire, walk for Wenjack, and pick rosehip, wolf willow and sage.

NOVEMBER 7, 2022 -- On October 7, 2022, Albert Community School had a professional development (PD) morning of land-based engagement. The morning included picking sage, rose hips and wolf willow. The staff meeting was held around an open fire while staff cooked bannock on a stick, hotdogs and s’mores.

NOVEMBER 4, 2022 -- Staff members at Judge Bryant School had the opportunity to experience an aspect of Indigenous tradition first hand as they headed to Last Mountain Lake to pick sage. This experience was led by Indigenous Education Coordinator Jeff Cappo.

Jeff spoke about the importance of sage in Indigenous culture and explained how smudging can cleanse the spirit. Tobacco was placed along the grounds as an offering and permission was asked from Mother Earth prior to picking the sacred plant. The Judge Bryant staff spent the morning collecting the medicinal sage while the sun warmed the valley.

The experience was a way to reflect on and honour treaty relationships as folks made a connection to the land.

NOVEMBER 2, 2022 -- The months of September and October have been busy for Albert Community School staff, students and families. There have been many activities in and around the school to celebrate re-engagement of students and families who have not had the opportunity to engage with the school as a community since the onset of COVID.

NOVEMBER 2, 2022 -- On October 7th, F.W. Johnson Collegiate staff, along with Elders Hazel Dixon and Lloyd Carrier, travelled to the Treaty Education Alliance Centre in Fort Qu’Appelle to participate in a Treaty Walk. It is a “hike, a stroll, a field trip with Treaty on the mind” and “the goal is to promote our shared history and work towards truth and reconciliation by reflecting on Treaty and our role within it” (Koops, 2012).

Sheena Koops, Nation Building Advocate, led staff to multiple locations to better understand the original intent of Treaty 4. Staff gained a deeper understanding of the ways that the treaty agreement has been broken and our collective obligation to honour it again. Staff also had time to share and reflect on their personal treaty story.

NOVEMBER 1, 2022 -- On the chilly afternoon of Friday, October 14^th, the Grades 7/8 students at Coronation Park Community School were guided on a walk of the Regina Indian Industrial School (RIIS) cemetery site by Bill Wall. The visit was in recognition of Secret Path Week that commemorates the legacies of Chanie Wenjack and Gord Downie from October 17th to 22nd.

The students and school leaders learned about Regina’s residential school that was operated from 1891 to 1910 with students from some 43 First Nations on the Prairies. The cemetery, where 35 to 40 children are believed to be buried, is located on Pinkie Road in northwest Regina and has Municipal as well as Provincial Heritage Property status.