Teachers and staff from the Borderland School Division (BLSD) and Western School Division (WSD) took part in an activity known as the blanket exercise.
"The blanket exercise itself is an interactive learning experience," said Kutzner. "Blankets are laid out on the floor and those blankets represent the land prior to colonization."
She explained participants walk along the blankets, while the narrator reads events of colonization, disease, the creation of treaties, residential schools, and loss of rights and land.
"So really, what the exercise aims to do, is to engage participants on an emotional level as well as an intellectual level," she added. "Having our staff trained in facilitating this exercise helps us as a division to work towards the Call to Action brought forth by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission."
She noted this is part of the Social Studies curriculum and wants to better prepare teachers to educate on the topic.
Jason Mateychuck, Principal at Roseau Valley School in Dominion City has taken part in this exercise several times and believes it to be a good learning tool.
"I think the blanket exercise is a valuable exploration of Indigenous Education and Indigenous life in Canada. I think it takes you back from the start all the way through all the key occurrences through time that has had effects on all segments of the population, but primarily the Indigenous population," said Mateychuck.
Mateychuck added Indigenous Education has been a priority for BLSD, and he plans to bring to activity to Roseau Valley School.
"I just think it's a great activity for cultural appreciation and understanding Canada as a whole, and I think it also gives an idea of some of the work that we have to do in the future."
Wed, Apr 24, 4:00 PM
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