On September 30, students at St. Mary Catholic Secondary School gathered in the library for a learning session focused on Truth and Reconciliation.
In the days leading up to the event, Teacher-Librarian Tracy Trofimencoff appeared on the school announcements to explain the significance of Truth and Reconciliation and the origins of Orange Shirt Day. Her presentations were followed by a series of videos from CBC Kids, laying the groundwork for deeper discussion.
“The day featured a history of the origins of the day, a discussion about intergenerational trauma, some information about The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, along with a video featuring Phyllis Webstad,” said Trofimencoff.
While the content was heavy, Trofimencoff emphasized the importance of listening and reflection.
“The students were respectful and thoughtful as they shared their understanding. We had an opportunity to make connections to social justice and human dignity as it relates to our faith.”
A curated display of Indigenous literature — including fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, and graphic novels — was also available for students to explore during their free time.
“The students needed to know that not only do these books cover the stories of residential schools and their survivors, but also the everyday stories of Indigenous peoples. I wanted the students to see that learning from their Indigenous brothers and sisters is not just a sad story of the schools, but many stories of resistance, resilience, and wonder.”
The session ended with a demonstration of critical thinking skills where students had an opportunity to move around the library to add their thoughts to some chart paper.
“The day generated some new learning for our students and staff. I am hopeful that our students here at St. Mary take away something from the library presentation and work towards becoming better allies for our Indigenous sisters and brothers.”