A $10,000 boost is on its way to support a Truth and Reconciliation initiative at a north end intermediate school.
The funding, announced by MP Lloyd Longfield on Thursday, will allow the Upper Grand District School Board’s Knowledge Keeper In Residence, Metis artist Leslie Muma, to spend 20 days working with students at Willow Road Public School.
“(Muma) will meet with self-identified Indigenous students as a mentor, build relationships with students and staff, teach the school community about Métis history, culture and community, and co-teach with teachers in classrooms offering a loom beading and math collaboration,” a news release explains.
“The students at Willow Road will have the opportunity to craft artifacts involving beading and unpack ethno-mathematics within the art.”
On behalf of the federal government, Longfield announced the funding two days ahead of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
“Commemoration of our county’s traumatic residential school impact is so important for reconciliation with Indigenous survivors, elders, knowledge keepers and their families to begin to foster healing,” Longfield said in the release. “We have a responsibility to educate ourselves and future generations about Canada’s painful history and I am pleased to see the Upper Grand School Board raising awareness.”
