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Brentwood Takes Action for Truth and Reconciliation
Beginning on Monday, September 26th, the Brentwood community engaged in a number of events leading up to the second official National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30th. Also known as Orange Shirt Day, the day was first declared in 2021 to recognize the atrocities that many Indigenous children endured in Canada’s residential schools and to honour the survivors and those who never returned.
On Monday, we set the tone for the week with conversations in our advisor groups recognizing the importance of Truth and Reconciliation Day, and by hanging feathers around campus in remembrance of the more than 4000 children who died while in the care of residential schools.
On Thursday, the school gathered in the Killy Theatre for a special assembly. The assembly began with a talk by local Cowichan artist, Stuart Pagaduan. Although he touched on his family’s experience with residential schools, most of his presentation was about keeping his language and culture alive and carrying on the legacy of his elders, a task to which he has dedicated much of his life.
We were also honoured with the presence of Bubba Q and the Cowichan Tzinquaw singers and dancers who performed several traditional dances and spoke about the importance of listening to the truth and histories of Canadian First Nations people.
“It was really special to see the dancers perform live. You could see the sort of mentorship that happens in the passing down of dance from the older generation to the next,” said Ms Murray, Health and B-Well Sponsor.
On Friday, September 30, five hundred Brentwood staff and students piled into school buses and attended the Every Child Matters March in Duncan – a tradition I hope carries on in years to come. The streets were bathed in orange as more than 2000 people of all ages walked a two-kilometre loop through downtown Duncan. Before and after the march, which was organized by Brentwood alumna Audrey George, there were speakers and other events at the Si’em Lelum soccer field. Shoes were also collected at the event to distribute to those in need, an apt request given that children’s shoes have been used as a symbolic homage to the lost children since the announcement of the buried children found in Kamloops in 2021.
This was merely one of the hundreds of planned activities that took place across the country. “It felt very impactful and important that Brentwood was able to show support as part of the Cowichan community, rather than taking action only within the Brentwood campus” stated Hazel L, Allard ‘23.
Learn more about how we can practice truth and reconciliation every day of the year by visiting https://circlesforreconciliation.ca/94in94/.
Lucy M, Mackenzie ‘23
On Monday, we set the tone for the week with conversations in our advisor groups recognizing the importance of Truth and Reconciliation Day, and by hanging feathers around campus in remembrance of the more than 4000 children who died while in the care of residential schools.
On Thursday, the school gathered in the Killy Theatre for a special assembly. The assembly began with a talk by local Cowichan artist, Stuart Pagaduan. Although he touched on his family’s experience with residential schools, most of his presentation was about keeping his language and culture alive and carrying on the legacy of his elders, a task to which he has dedicated much of his life.
We were also honoured with the presence of Bubba Q and the Cowichan Tzinquaw singers and dancers who performed several traditional dances and spoke about the importance of listening to the truth and histories of Canadian First Nations people.
“It was really special to see the dancers perform live. You could see the sort of mentorship that happens in the passing down of dance from the older generation to the next,” said Ms Murray, Health and B-Well Sponsor.
On Friday, September 30, five hundred Brentwood staff and students piled into school buses and attended the Every Child Matters March in Duncan – a tradition I hope carries on in years to come. The streets were bathed in orange as more than 2000 people of all ages walked a two-kilometre loop through downtown Duncan. Before and after the march, which was organized by Brentwood alumna Audrey George, there were speakers and other events at the Si’em Lelum soccer field. Shoes were also collected at the event to distribute to those in need, an apt request given that children’s shoes have been used as a symbolic homage to the lost children since the announcement of the buried children found in Kamloops in 2021.
This was merely one of the hundreds of planned activities that took place across the country. “It felt very impactful and important that Brentwood was able to show support as part of the Cowichan community, rather than taking action only within the Brentwood campus” stated Hazel L, Allard ‘23.
Learn more about how we can practice truth and reconciliation every day of the year by visiting https://circlesforreconciliation.ca/94in94/.
Lucy M, Mackenzie ‘23