Oliver, B.C. students paint tipi in honour of Indigenous Peoples’ Day – Okanagan | 24CA News
Over 100 college students from Oliver and Osoyoos, B.C., have been invited to color a tipi in honour of Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
Wednesday’s occasion was part of the We Will Recover Society’s Unbroken Together initiative, a chance for the neighborhood to come back collectively on a path to restoration, resistance and reconciliation.
“The trauma that the Indigenous children and families suffered was horrible and those impacts are still very obvious today and we need to work with our Indigenous community and support one another,” stated We Will Recover Society govt director Lori Vrebosch.
“What this tipi represents, is what we can achieve when we work together and raise awareness and actual truth and reconciliation.”
On Wednesday college students from Oliver Elementary, Tuk El Nuit, and Sen’Pok’Chin got the chance to depart an orange handprint on the tipi canvas
The public was additionally invited to take part within the portray nonetheless organizers say it was necessary for them to first contain native college students.
“Our goal is 500 hands because we believe that Oliver and Osoyoos and this community care deeply about recovery and reconciliation,” stated Vrebosch.
“The significance and having the children paint is that the orange hand represents the children who were taken into residential schools through the awful history that Canada has and how we treated our Indigenous people.”
Helen Gallagher, School District 53 Teacher of Indigenous Education, stated she feels a whole lot of pleasure in seeing her college students take part within the occasion.
“They are learning about the true history of the residential schools of Canada, and what has happened to some of their ancestors. And being aware of who they are and where they come from, which is really important for them,” stated Gallagher.
“A lot of pride – the kids become more aware of what is going on and become more respectful to not only themselves but to their elders and community.”
Once the tipi is completed, We Will Recover plans to lift it all through the South Okanagan on important days, and at important occasions and celebrations.
“When this tipi is completed in its entirety, we will have a tipi transfer ceremony and blessing and we will raise the tipi for the first time on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, June 21, followed by Canada Day in Osoyoos at the Nk’Mip campground,” stated Vrebosh.
“Then there will be other important days where we’ll also raise the tipi, for example, International Overdose Awareness Day and National Day of Truth and Reconciliation on September 30.”
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