The inaugural Truth and Reconciliation day on September 30th was all about learning for the students at G. C. Huston Public School in Southampton. The student body consists almost equally of Indigenous and non-Indigenous students.
They took part in a special ceremony at the bridge that crosses the Saugeen River and that was named, ‘Zgaa-biig-ni-gan’ … “We Are Connected”.
The students then returned to school where, in an outdoor classroom setting, they had the opportunity to learn about traditional Indigenous medicines, the importance of a sacred fire, and heard first-hand of the residential schools.
Seated around a ‘sacred’ fire, Saugeen First Nation Elder, Dave Root, told the students of the tragedy that was the residential school era and also said that they “… should value their education”.
The Men’s Drum Corp made up of senior students welcomed back the school’s former principal Dan Russell. Russell had been principal at the school for eight years and was instrumental in having the bridge re-named and also advocated for Indigenous arts and language in the school. He was also instrumental in renaming the bridge, organized the original drum corps and brought competitive archery to the school.
