Blog Posts

As we complete the first month of the new school year, there are two important dates to honour and guide our work on Stó:lō tém:éxw: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30th and Stó:lō New Year on October 2nd, 2024.

Working towards revealing truths and moving towards Reconciliation takes all of us. As we reflect on these two dates, we see how they work with one another.

The Indigenous Education Department held a special Spring Break School to support students with their academic success, connection to cultural identity, and connection to the community. Students chose from three programs: Credit Recovery for students who needed to re-do part of a course to pass or improve their mark, a Peer Tutoring-credited course, and a Foods-credited course.

We are fortunate to have a dedicated and caring staff supporting our Indigenous students in our district who utilize a variety of creative approaches to do whatever it takes to support students to achieve success in our schools, develop their cultural identities and advocate for equitable access to every opportunity. Our ultimate mandate in Indigenous Education is to graduate students and to prepare them for a happy and fulfilling adulthood.

I was so pleased that we extended a special day of support to acknowledge and celebrate support staff in our district on June 1. We invited our Indigenous Support Workers to Mamele’awt for an appreciation tea to enjoy the fruit and chocolate strawberries the Board had sent to thank our staff.  It was wonderful to take a bit of time to come together for fun, play some games, laugh and enjoy each other’s company.

Ashley Lamson, ISW at ASIA Sumas and member of Semá:th First Nation, has generations of knowledge to share with her students about the significance of canoe pulling in the Indigenous community.  Much of this heritage was taken with the draining of Sumas Lake, but canoeing has been revitalized in the last generations as an important connection to land, water and culture. Ashley is from the Silver family, and her mom, nephew, and uncle share some of these important lessons in this video. 

The Indigenous Department has been honoured to work with our community partners at VYPER, Xyolhemeylh and the Fraser Valley Metis Association to sponsor a Powwow and Cultural Night each Thursday.

At the end of 2021, the Abbotsford School District approved changing the name of two of our schools - Upper Sumas Elementary to Semá:th Elementary and Matsqui Elementary to Mathxwí Elementary. This decision was made in consultation with the local First Nation communities as an acknowledgement of the traditional and unceded territory of the Stó:lō people, the Semá:th First Nation and Mathxwí First Nation and their longstanding relationship to the land. Stó:lō Elders describe their connection to the land in the statement "we have always been here." 

This past month families experiencing flooding lost so much.  Having little to no time to respond, many lost items stored in the basement or crawlspace, especially seasonal items that were damaged beyond repair.  Considering much bigger loses occurred, why is it that losing Christmas decorations hurts so much?  The ornament made by our kids, the picture ornaments of special memories, family antiques carefully wrapped and placed on the tree each year.  Memories of better times lost in soggy basements.  Allison Gardner, Teacher for Indigenous Success (Supporting Indig

Even though Canada recently observed the first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, Abbotsford School of Integrated Arts (ASIA) North Poplar campus began their journey of Truth and Reconciliation years ago by listening, collaborating, and acting. I, myself - Wenonah Justin (she/her) from the Pukaist community, a member of Cook's Ferry of the Nlaka'pamux Nation, and Cree ancestry - am one of the Indigenous Support Workers at the school that guides all that come across my path with Indigenous knowledge.

Thank you to all who have included a land acknowledgment in their email signatures.  In my own learning journey, I have learned the correct representation and spelling of each local Nation. I share this with you and ask you check to ensure you are using the correct spelling as well.  The land acknowledgment below was approved by our Indigenous Education Council.