Category Archives: _Ontario

A Student’s Dream: Westboro Academy Welcomes Project of Heart

IMG_4896 (1)

The students and staff at Ottawa’s Westboro Academy were honoured by the visit of a very special guest this past month, and they have a grade 5 student at the school by the name of Leo to thank for the event.

Leo realized the value in bringing Project of Heart to his school after he had seen IRS survivor Mary Lou Iahtail speak last year. He wanted his classmates to have the chance to hear her story too, and for his school to take part in reconciliation event. Continue reading A Student’s Dream: Westboro Academy Welcomes Project of Heart

When consensus-building is beautiful: Barrie Learning Commons has a special gift


 

They made a what? Teacher Caroline Leppanen from Hewitt’s Creek Public School in Barrie, Ontario delighted us with her learners’ amazing creativity in this inspiring report:

My grade 6 class spent a great deal of time inquiring about Truth and Reconciliation, First Nations circle teachings, Grandfather teachings, and residential schools. We have completed our Project of Heart! And are excited to share it with you!

We will hold a dedication ceremony in September.We have shared our process via Twitter @leppanens_world

Our plan? The table will be placed in our Learning Commons. It will be a place for groups to come when they need to arrive at a consensus. It will be a place for people to come when they are in need of a restorative session. Its tiles all tell a story of my students’ learning. They will share these stories at the dedication ceremony.

Editor’s note: We’ve add the Hewitt’s Creek photos to our albums page at https://www.flickr.com/photos/projectofheart/albums — it’s a great place to see how educators across Canada have incorporated POH tiles and artifacts in their classroom.

Project of Heart a valuable resource for Day of Remembrance and Action on Mass Atrocities Youth Conference


Two high school history teachers from the Ottawa Carleton District School Board recently brought Project of Heart to 60 students from across the National Capital area who had gathered to learn about genocide.

Kim Bruton and Amanda Anderson were presenting at the 3rd annual National Day of Remembrance and Action on Mass Atrocities Youth Conference at Carleton University in Ottawa. Project of Heart was invited to be part of the day’s program in order to recognize the Indian Residential School era and the vast number of Indigenous children affected by Canada’s “hidden genocide” – a cultural genocide which was meant to “kill the Indian within the child”, and that all too often killed the child as well. Continue reading Project of Heart a valuable resource for Day of Remembrance and Action on Mass Atrocities Youth Conference

Parkdale United Church youth participate in POH

ParkdaleAs the attached bulletin excerpt describes, youth at the Ottawa’s Parkdale United Church recently had the good fortune to learn about Indian Residential Schools from an IRS Survivor, Mary-Lou Iatail, a Cree elder from Attawapiskat.

Our thanks going out to Elder Mary-Lou and and the Parkdale United Church senior youth group for their active engagement in Project of Heart and taking the reconciliation challenge to heart. Continue reading Parkdale United Church youth participate in POH

Shannen’s legacy lives on


The memory of Shannen Koustachin was kept alive at a recent event at the Museum of Nature in Ottawa.

On the evening, June Girvan, Community Service Award winner for 2014, was feted by the Canadian Race Relations Foundation for her extraordinary work in children’s rights. June dedicated the award to the memory of Shannen Koustachen and her “Dream Team” of activists for carrying on Shannen’s work–equal education for First Nations children. Shannen has inspired youth across Canada to continue her work of bringing justice to First Nations children across Canada who continue to suffer systemic discrimination at the hands of the Federal government. Continue reading Shannen’s legacy lives on

Have a Heart for First Nations Children: Ottawa Project of Heart students take to the Hill


 

On February 10 students from Elizabeth Wyn Wood school in Ottawa made the decision to join with and support hundreds of other students from the National Capital area on Parliament Hill as they voiced their concerns to Prime Minister Stephen Harper–loud and clear! Continue reading Have a Heart for First Nations Children: Ottawa Project of Heart students take to the Hill

Young leaders take the helm at Covenant Chain V


 

The events at at the Diocesan Centre in Ottawa on October 18th will go down as “making history” in Project of Heart’s diary.
 
For the first time at a Kairos Covenant Chain Link conference, youth took over the plenary and guided the delegates through a session given by Shannen’s Dream Team from the National Capital region. Seven area students​ spoke of their journey of activism, inspired by First Nation youth Shannen Koustachen of Attawapiskat. Continue reading Young leaders take the helm at Covenant Chain V