Monday a day to honour histories of First Nations within boundaries of school district

NEWS — Monday is a day of recognition in of the Secwepemc and Nlaka’pamux Nations in the Kamloops-Thompson school district.

The idea came from a former student at South Kamloops secondary school, the district says in a press release.

The social justice committee, part of the Kamloops-Thompson Teachers Association, brought the idea forward and it was supported by the First Nations Education Council Advisory Committee and the board of education.

It is the first in what is hoped to be an annual event and will be marked by the hosting of assemblies in all district schools. The assemblies will focus on recognizing the traditional territories of the Secwepemc and Nlaka’pamux peoples.

“It is part of a bigger Aboriginal education initiative that spans Kindergarten to Grade 12 and includes the history of the nations and their traditional practices,” said Cheryl Sebastian, district principal for Aboriginal education.

“The ‘Day of Sucwentwecw’ (sook-went-wa) is a day to celebrate and acknowledge one another.”

Each school has the opportunity to invite an elder or representative from the Secwepemc/ Nlaka’pamux community to be part of its assembly.

South Kamloops secondary and NorKam secondary will host keynote speaker Wab Kinew, hip-hop artist, journalist, host of the CBC 8^th Fire series, and director of indigenous inclusion at the University of Winnipeg.

“The majority of schools in this district are on Secwepemc traditional territory,” said Renee Spence, administrator for the First Nations Education Council. “This day is intended to increase awareness and an appreciation for the traditional territory of the First Peoples in our area.”

Schools in Logan Lake will recognize and acknowledge the traditional territories of the Nlaka’pamux People.

All 42 schools in the district have received a Day of Sucwentwecw resource package, which includes the Secwepemc flag designed by local artist Travis Marr with 17 feathers representing the 17 Secwepemc communities, a Shuswap Nation Territory map, a special edition of the ‘Secwepemc News’, and resources booklets with grade-appropriate lesson plans.