Fenelon Falls (Ontario) teacher Linda Zernask recently accompanied her students on a journey of discovery with Project of Heart. Her students uncovered a new and challenging view of recent Canadian history as they listened to Elder Cliff Standingready recall his own experiences at Indian Residential Schools.

After Cliff’s words, The Aboriginal students who once attended George River Federal Hostel (Quebec) were remembered in ceremony as Elder Cliff smudged the decorated tiles, each symbolic of the life of a child who did not survive to go home to their loved ones and families.

Zernask funneled the energy and the determination of the students to see justice done, by allowing them to write letters to their MPs and MPPs in hopes that their representatives will use their power to make a positive difference in the lives of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people, all who suffered so horribly in the Residential Schools.

A huge “miigwetch” goes out to all of the Fenelon students and their teacher, Ms. Zernask. Well done!

 

 

 

 

 

ating tiles, writing letters to their MP and MPP, and by inviting Elder

Clifford Standingready to speak with them about the Residential School

experience and bless all the tiles created at our school.

 

Thank you so much for the opportunity to participate in offering some

small moments of understanding and awareness to our students through this

project.