G. C. Huston Public School in Southampton (Saugeen Shores) is unique. It is a school where the student body is made up equally of Indigenous and non-Indigenous students.
It is also a school where the Indigenous culture is embraced – where Ojibway language is taught, where Indigenous art flourishes, where nature is taught in an outdoor classroom and where the school teachers and students organize and lead the day of Truth and Reconciliation on September 30th (2025).
An outdoor assembly at the school amphitheatre began the day before, on Monday September 28th, with the boys drumming group, Saugeen First Nation’s Women’s Drumming Group and special guests, Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson, Saugeen Shores Mayor Luke Charbonneau, Ojibway teacher Marilyn Root and Saugeen First Nation Chief Conrad Ritchie.
MPP Thompson spoke of the uniqueness of the school and the students, who are known as the G.C. Huston Hawks. “As Hawks, you soar above all the schools in Ontario because you come together as a community, as family and as friends … coming here today is to learn beside you. As we connect on the bridge tomorrow, it is a poignant moment that not many communities and First Nations share across this province … let us all stand together and reconcile and continue to walk side by side from here to eternity.”
Mayor Luke Charbonneau added that the ‘Every Child Matters’ flag has been flying alongside the Canada flag for the month of September in a symbol of solidarity with First Nations. “We know that we need to listen and learn from survivors of residential schools. We need to hear their stories not only about their own trauma but how it has also spread
throughout the generations to today and whole communities have been affected. We also need to remember that there are many stories we will never hear because people never came home. G. C. Huston school teachers and students have always been our guide and ahead of us and led the way when it comes to reconciliation. Every year, you lead us to the Zgaa-biig-ni-gan bridge to remind us that we are connected.”
He added that some people say they are not optimistic about the future. “When I stand here today and look at all of you, I am filled with optimism, pride and hope for the future because one day you will be the leaders of our community and you will lead us further down the path to reconciliation than we have ever been before.”
Then, on September 30th, the students and teachers, along with students from Northport Elementary and St. Joseph’s Catholic Schools in Port Elgin, led the way to the Zgaa-biig-ni-gan (We are Connected) Bridge, that spans the Saugeen River, for the Truth and Reconciliation Day ceremony.
For larger view, click on image
When it was renamed Zgaa-biig-ni-gan on June 21, 2018, under the guidance of then-principal, Dan Russell and Saugeen First Nation elders, the Bridge became a symbol of connection between the two communities of Saugeen Shores and Saugeen First Nation.
Zgaa-biig-ni-gan Bridge – a sea of orange
MP Ben Lobb said, “If you think about life, truth is the pillar in the foundation of our beings. We are taught truth from the beginning but, in Canada, it took a long time to get to the truth. It took decades … and until recent times through commissions, apologies and the Reconciliation Report, we finally got to the truth and there are now thousands of documents housed at the University of Manitoba. At events like this today, they are small steps toward a lasting reconciliation.”
Huron-Bruce MPP and Minister of Rural Affairs, Lisa Thompson, said that gathering on the bridge was a poignant opportunity to listen and learn. “When we understand, we can acknowledge the truth and work together for reconciliation. It gives me hope to see all these beautiful children together. I believe that through all of Ontario, Saugeen Shores is so fortunate to have two communities come together to work together towards reconciliation and we can’t take it for granted. We have more work to do and that’s what I am committed to.”
Saugeen Shores Mayor and Warden of Bruce County, Luke Charbonneau said that the colour orange is worn to honour those children who had their culture, their language and in far too many cases, their lives, taken from them at residential schools. “Today, across Saugeen Shores, our region and across the country, we lower our flags to half-mast out of sorrow and out of sadness and to reaffirm our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation.”
As Warden of the County, he said that he was pleased to see many leaders and mayors, concillors and staffs from the various municipalities throughout the region. “We commit to understanding the truth about what happened due to colonization at residential schools and commit to reconciliation that means continuing down a path toward healing along with the peoples of Saugeen Ojibway Nation and all the Indigenous peoples of our country. Today, that path has taken us to this bridge and we have been led here by the young people of G.C. Huston Public school.”
