Faculty of Education Education News Fall 2012 / Winter 2013 Page 9
tiles that , as part of the Project of Heart , are created in memory of the many children who died while attending residential schools ; listened to Joseph Naytowhow tell of his experiences as a survivor ; and observed the ceremonial Smudging of the tiles . Heather reports , “ The students agreed that the best part of the experience for them was the field trip to the university .”
Both Heather and Keith recommend that teachers embrace the opportunity to participate in a Project of Heart . Heather says , “ It is a wonderful tool to help teachers and students in learning about this part of Canadian history . The kit comes with so many great resources to help teachers get started .”
Jennifer says of the experience , “ Facilitating and engaging in Project of Heart with the Grade 12s and the ESST students was meaningful on many levels . It challenged me to think deeply about my own pedagogical practices , settler identity , and complicity in ongoing processes of colonialism . It also created spaces to have important but difficult conversations with young people about what it means to live in a province that is still struggling to heal from the legacies of residential schooling . And ultimately , it provided opportunities to begin the difficult process of working toward reconciliation .”
“
It created spaces to have important but difficult conversations with young people about what it means to live in a province that is still struggling to heal from the legacies of residential schooling .
Heather and Jennifer with ESST and Grade 12 students
Participating in Remembrance Day service at First Nations University
Photos Credit : Keith Adolph
Joseph Naytowhow drums and sings for the Round Dance Dean McNinch observes students as they make remembrance tiles
Joseph Naytowhow with students Tiles made by students