Last week, educational leaders from across Canada came to Winnipeg to discuss truth, equity, and reconciliation at the C21 CEO Academy Summit from May 18 to 19. The event was hosted at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
Christian Michalik, Superintendent of the Louis Riel School Division (LRSD), and Pauline Clarke, Chief Superintendent and CEO of the Winnipeg School Division (WSD), were the hosting members.
Day one began with a smudge, cleansing and prayer from Chickadee Richard, Knowledge Keeper and member of LRSD's Council of Grandmothers and Grandfathers, and Myra Laramee, Elder/Traditional Knowledge Keeper at the Winnipeg School Division. The group also received greetings from Mayor Brian Bowman and Murray Sinclair.
Throughout the Summit, members of the LRSD team led impactful learning sessions. On Wednesday, Joël Tétrault and Sean Oliver from LRSD's Indigenous Education Team discussed their collective efforts to decolonize our teaching practice and curricula through an antiracist lens. Later that day, Indigenous Education Team members Bobbie-Jo Leclair and Manny Skead as well as Learning Team member Chris Heidebrecht presented on Manito Ahbee Aki, a Minecraft world that was developed in partnership with Microsoft Canada, our Indigenous Council of Grandmothers and Grandfathers, LRSD's Indigenous Education Team and under the stewardship of Chickadee Richard. Superintendent Michalik and Clarke Hagan, Director of Information Technology Systems, also led a session on system data and analysis to illuminate Indigenous identity and voice in the service of truth and reconciliation.
The morning of May 19 kicked off with an accelerated Métis walking tour by Joël that led the group through the tragedy and the heroism of the Métis Nation at the heart of the Red River settlement. In the afternoon, Jill Mathez, principal at Dakota Collegiate Institute, participated in a community panel on leadership and advocacy for reconciliation, action for truth, and human rights. Jill presented alongside Mayor Brian Bowman, Rob Riel, Director of Indigenous Education for the WSD, Isha Khan, President and CEO of the CMHR, and Jody Lynn Ross, Ozhitoon Onji Peenjiiee student. The panel was filmed by students in the Broadcast Media program at the Louis Riel Arts & Technology Centre.
Overall, the Summit helped create pathways for action and impact in school divisions and districts across the country through the sharing of ideas and reflecting on current practices. The knowledge and expertise of numerous LRSD team members and the voice of students was vital in communicating the point that children and young persons experiencing racism can't wait for those around them to move at their own pace and comfort level; action is urgently needed now to ensure all students can thrive and flourish.
Christian Michalik, Superintendent of the Louis Riel School Division (LRSD), and Pauline Clarke, Chief Superintendent and CEO of the Winnipeg School Division (WSD), were the hosting members.
Day one began with a smudge, cleansing and prayer from Chickadee Richard, Knowledge Keeper and member of LRSD's Council of Grandmothers and Grandfathers, and Myra Laramee, Elder/Traditional Knowledge Keeper at the Winnipeg School Division. The group also received greetings from Mayor Brian Bowman and Murray Sinclair.
Throughout the Summit, members of the LRSD team led impactful learning sessions. On Wednesday, Joël Tétrault and Sean Oliver from LRSD's Indigenous Education Team discussed their collective efforts to decolonize our teaching practice and curricula through an antiracist lens. Later that day, Indigenous Education Team members Bobbie-Jo Leclair and Manny Skead as well as Learning Team member Chris Heidebrecht presented on Manito Ahbee Aki, a Minecraft world that was developed in partnership with Microsoft Canada, our Indigenous Council of Grandmothers and Grandfathers, LRSD's Indigenous Education Team and under the stewardship of Chickadee Richard. Superintendent Michalik and Clarke Hagan, Director of Information Technology Systems, also led a session on system data and analysis to illuminate Indigenous identity and voice in the service of truth and reconciliation.
The morning of May 19 kicked off with an accelerated Métis walking tour by Joël that led the group through the tragedy and the heroism of the Métis Nation at the heart of the Red River settlement. In the afternoon, Jill Mathez, principal at Dakota Collegiate Institute, participated in a community panel on leadership and advocacy for reconciliation, action for truth, and human rights. Jill presented alongside Mayor Brian Bowman, Rob Riel, Director of Indigenous Education for the WSD, Isha Khan, President and CEO of the CMHR, and Jody Lynn Ross, Ozhitoon Onji Peenjiiee student. The panel was filmed by students in the Broadcast Media program at the Louis Riel Arts & Technology Centre.
Overall, the Summit helped create pathways for action and impact in school divisions and districts across the country through the sharing of ideas and reflecting on current practices. The knowledge and expertise of numerous LRSD team members and the voice of students was vital in communicating the point that children and young persons experiencing racism can't wait for those around them to move at their own pace and comfort level; action is urgently needed now to ensure all students can thrive and flourish.
