North Vancouver School District
the natural place to learn©
Oct 14
A Reflection: Curriculum Implementation Day

By Arlene Martin, Director of Instruction

“There are only 2 sides to a circle. 
We are either inside, or we are outside"

~Kevin Lamoureux

Curriculum Implementation (CI) Day affords us an opportunity to collaborate with colleagues, consider instructional planning, and take inspiration that will enhance learning for students. This year's CI Day was particularly thought provoking.

In his blog post, Truth, healing and reconciliation, District Principal of Indigenous Education, Tsnomot (Brad Baker) invited us “to be change makers." On the October 1 - CI Day - keynote speaker Dr. Kevin Lamoureux likewise noted that through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) 94 Calls to Action, educators have been entrusted with important work…“to make schools places of healing," and that the Calls to Action are an incredible gift given to us by the survivors of Indian residential schools.

Two weeks later, as a settler who grew up on the traditional land of the Mi'kmaq people, I am still hearing the echo of Dr. Lamoureux's words and message in my own thoughts and in the comments of colleagues within our school district. His message about the pathway forward has been received as one of hope. Hearing the words, “None of this is your fault. None of this is on you. You didn't do this," invites removal of a barrier to moving forward. Instead of carrying guilt or apologizing, we are asked to be part of the solution.

TRC Article 63.3 was featured in the keynote – a call to “[build] student capacity for intercultural understanding, empathy, and mutual respect," and we were asked to consider two questions: 

  1. Why is this being asked of us?
  2. Would our community be better off if this Call to Action was fulfilled?

The first question requires us to work toward a clear comprehension of the past and the status quo. We are asked to ensure our schools reflect the land and the people and to create circumstances for every  child that live up to our own values. And this leads to an obvious answer to the second question…. if we do this right, then everyone wins. Supporting Indigenous culture does not need to be a threat to secular culture. Maybe if we “change the way we look at things, the things we look at will change" (Wayne Dyer).

Dr. Lamoureux, Education Lead for the National Centre for Truth & Reconciliation, concluded his keynote with an explanation of the organization's logo:

  • The middle being a depiction of fire – the spirit of reconciliation – a place of warmth, food and storytelling.
  • The two birds represent Indigenous and non-Indigenous people moving together toward reconciliation.
  • The yellow piece on top represents children – the ones we teach and the ones who did not make it home.
  • The circle around the outside is about protecting – keeping children safe.

We have an opportunity to move forward with courage – to learn from one another in a spirit of mutual respect and to protect all children. I share Dr. Lamoureux' sincere gratitude to teachers for “pouring love into making schools places of healing," and join him and Tsnomot in asking you to be a change maker. I have printed this logo and posted it on my office door and computer monitor – a reminder to contribute to the flame.

NCTR-Logo-Icon.png

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