Photo / Article By: Trillium Lakelands District School Board
Riverside Public School (RPS) is committed to truth and reconciliation. As part of that commitment, the students and staff have recently been a part of two school-wide projects.
In RPS’s latest project, Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) Indigenous Education consultant, Holly Groome, and Oshbeenis (helper) Dave Rice visited the school at the end of February to teach students about the Seven Grandfather Teachings that are the guiding principles of the Anishbawbi People. The students engaged with ideas on love, respect, humility, honesty, truth, courage, and wisdom at assemblies that were tailored by age group. Since February, classrooms have continued learning more about the teachings through books, videos, and conversations.
Now the time has come to reflect on the learning. To do this, RPS has partnered with the Huntsville Arts Society’s “Artists in the Classroom.” On Wednesday, April 19, artists in various mediums ranging from textiles to acrylics, to sculpting and print-making, will work with RPS classes to help them demonstrate their learning. Each class from Grades 1 to 8 will be assigned an artist, as well as one of the Seven Grandfather Teachings to interpret through art. Kindergarten classes will also be creating artwork in order to show their understanding of the Grandfather Teaching of love.
The entire school’s artwork will be on display at the Honouring the Seven Grandfathers Art Gala, taking place in the RPS gym on Thursday, May 11, from 5 to 8 p.m. The gala is open to the RPS school community to come and learn about the teachings, while admiring the artwork.