Classes Visit Former Residential School

Last month over 300 students from our Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program attended fieldtrips to both St. Mary's Indian Residential School and Fraser River Heritage Park in Mission. 

Elder Josette Jim and Stó:lō Cultural Educator Sonny McHalsie provided the tour, led activities and told stories about Indigenous teachings regarding connections to earth and the spirit world.

The field trips were the result of efforts to embed more Indigenous perspectives and content into the curriculum throughout the program year. September is a month when students begin to develop the language skills and knowledge needed to understand the individual, family, and community inter-generational impacts of Indian Residential Schools and the concept of Every Child Matters.