Category Archives: _Ontario

Ottawa and Area, POH_news, _Ontario

Notre Dame students get mementos of their learning

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Above: a sample of the letters written by Notre Dame students as part of the social justice component; click on image for slideshow of completed tiles

A Native Studies teacher from Notre Dame Catholic High School in Ottawa completed Project of Heart with her students in June by commemorating the deaths of the Indigenous children at the Cross lake IRS in Manitoba.

Suzanne Keeptwo sends us this report of her class’s experience with Project of Heart: Continue reading Notre Dame students get mementos of their learning →

Eastern Ontario, POH_news, _Ontario

Pembroke students commemorate Saskatchewan Indian Residential School victims

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– Click image to view slideshow –

This past term 32 students from Bishop Smith Catholic School in Pembroke, Ontario commemorated the children who died at Thunderchild IRS and Sturgeon Landing IRS, both in Saskatchewan. The Bishop Smith participants were students of Kathrin Winkler, teacher of Aboriginal Cultures through the Arts. Continue reading Pembroke students commemorate Saskatchewan Indian Residential School victims →

OCSB, Ottawa and Area, POH_news, _Ontario

Lester B. Pearson Catholic School High School embraces Project of Heart

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Click on image to see slideshow

This spring Ottawa’s Lester B. Pearson Catholic High School commemorated the students that died as a result of the Indian Residential School experience at the Fort Albany IRS in James Bay. This school was chosen by the class of teacher Michael Bernards for its connection with one of their Indigenous classmates. Continue reading Lester B. Pearson Catholic School High School embraces Project of Heart →

Ottawa and Area, POH_news, _Ontario

Church-run Mount Elgin School remembered by Kitchissippi United

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Survivor Christopher Herodier with Kitchissippi United's Laurie Joe

IRS survivor Chris Herodier with Kitchissippi member Laurie Joe

A church in Ottawa’s Island Park neighbourhood was the scene of a unique act of acknowledgement as members of Kitchissippi United Church remembered the dead and the surviviors of Mount Elgin Indian Residential school in Muncey, Ontario. Mount Elgin was administered by the United Church of Canada. Continue reading Church-run Mount Elgin School remembered by Kitchissippi United →

OCDSB, Ottawa and Area, POH_news, Resources, _Ontario

Human Rights Tribunal attracts social action from POH students

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Image: student Samantha Wells takes on role of courtroom artist

A federal Human Rights Tribunal in Ottawa was recently the scene of a Project of Heart “social action component” as students from Elizabeth Wyn Wood attended  tribunal proceedings to show solidarity with the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society’s Executive director Cindy Blackstock, who took the stand to argue against a cynical government motion to dismiss the tribunal’s hearings into systemic underfunding of First Nations children in the child welfare system in Canada. Continue reading Human Rights Tribunal attracts social action from POH students →

Ottawa and Area, POH_news, Post-Secondary, _Ontario

Carleton University journalism students investigate Project of Heart

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The Friday Show is a project of Master’s students in journalism Carleton University; the show takes an in-depth at issues that are national in scope.

In this excerpt the Friday shows examines the experience of Project of Heart through the voices of traditional Elder Willy Bruce and student participant Violet Rosehart from Elizabeth Wyn Wood Alternate Site.

Also heard is POH coordinator Sylvia Smith as she indentifies what she believes is the “missing ingredient” in the historical narrative taught in our schools.

Click on the player below to hear the audio excerpt; it’s a concise piece that runs about three minutes.

Friday Show investigates Project of Heart Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
OCSB, Ottawa and Area, Workshops, _Ontario

Ottawa Catholic School Board teachers embrace Project of Heart

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Project of Heart coordinator Sylvia Smith and colleague Warren McBride provided an “in-service” to 8 Catholic School Board teachers.Organized by Jane Wharton, Intermediate/Secondary Creative Arts and Native Studies Consultant with the OCSB,  the workshop was held at the Odawa Native Friendship Centre. Continue reading Ottawa Catholic School Board teachers embrace Project of Heart →

OCDSB, Ottawa and Area, POH_news, _Ontario

Frederick Banting Alternate stands witness to residential school history

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Click on image to see slideshow from Frederick Banting event
Click on image to see slideshow from Frederick Banting event

Students at Frederick Banting Secondary School in Stittsville participated in Project of Heart as part of their Lifeskills and Aboriginal Studies courses. They chose to commemorate the Spanish Indian Residential School – formerly Wikwemikong – in Manitoulin Island.  The tiles were smudged by Willy Bruce, who is a Native veteran and Carrier of the Aboriginal Vetern’s Eagle Staff.  Students participated in an Honour Song at the Drum and listened attentively to Willy as he shared the Traditional Teachings on values that should govern our choices in life.  As well, Willy gifted an Eagle Feather to the Banting Staff to honour all the young warriors who gave their health or lives as a result of the IRS experience. Continue reading Frederick Banting Alternate stands witness to residential school history →

OCDSB, Ottawa and Area, POH_news, _Ontario

“I know what it’s like to be singled out”

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Those are the words of a student from teacher Kristin Jefferies’s First Place program at Richard Pfaff Alternative in Ottawa.

The First Place students were reacting to what they had learned about the experience of being aboriginal during the Residential School era in Canada. The empathy they felt with the story of the abused students of their chosen school — Poplar Hill Residential School in Northern Ontario — showed clearly in the care and creativity with which they crafted their memorial tiles. Continue reading “I know what it’s like to be singled out” →