A Different Booklist

A huge thank you to Itah Sadu and her bookstore A Different Booklist! They have donated another box of 50 books and continue to seek donations. We are setting up a display tomorrow at school highlighting the book drive.
Students are asking other students to donate books and are really excited to be helping Mikisew get a great library full of the books they love to read!

Sugar Falls

It's hard to believe that just a week ago we where getting back from Pimicikamak Cree Nation/Cross Lake, Manitoba. Before we left Greg Halcrow was kind enough to show us where the Residential School used to stand. It was burned by arson in the 1970's shortly after the school was closed in 1969. The site sits near the towns airport, and was on the water across from town. 

It was incredible that this week while looking for books to send to Mikisew School we came across Sugar Falls, A Residential School Story. This book is based on the true story of Betty Ross, Elder from Cross Lake First Nations. 

It's hard to image those children sitting in that school looking across the water at their homes which would seem so close, but were so very far away. It was really sad seeing the location and standing where so much pain had happened.  

Speaking to Downsview students about this graphic novel in her class, Ms. Prinn commenting about how many of the teens in Cross Lake wouldn't know about residential schools because the stories are too hard to re-tell. One Downsview student could relate to this as his mother is from El Salvador and fled during war times. This student has tried to ask his mother about her past, but she simply can't talk about it. It's to hard and mush too painful. The little he does know is extremely awful. She's seen things no one should every see, especially as a young girl. It was very interesting hearing him speak about this, and how he can understand what it must be like for the Survivors of residential school's children and grandchildren. 

Cross Lake Photos

Ice is starting to form on the Lake. Here are a few photos from around Cross Lake. 

The arena:

 Mikisew School:

 

They are looking at a program that will get the students to paint over the graffiti and create a new fresh look for their school.

Bronx, the neighbourhood beside Mikisew School:
 




Northmart one of two main grocery stores. This is where the Tim Hortons is located in the main part of town.

 

Church on the water across from the Northmart:

 Walking through town back to the 24/7 Hotel:

 Ghost Island:

Cross Lake Airport. Some of the land the airport currently sits on was used by the Residential School. It was used as farmland and the children were forced to work here.

Couldn't have been better

Back in Toronto after a quick week working at Mikisew School in Cross Lake, MN. What an amazing time! It really couldn't have gone better! 

Positive Peer Culture was held with two different groups of students each day, 17 classes were taught SketchUp and how to use the 3D printer, and five groups of students participated in the video workshop with each group making an original movie! 

We hosted a professional development session with staff Wednesday afternoon. This provided information about 3D printing and the video workshops, as well as an in-depth workshop for staff on PPC. 

On Friday we were treated to a feast by staff and students! It was the start of something great! We continue to look for donations of books to reenergize the library, and are looking forward to students and staff visiting Toronto soon!

The Feast

Back in Toronto, and we are all still reflecting on our wonderful trip to work at Mikisew School in Cross Lake last week. On Friday, staff and students put on an amazing Fall Feast. All of the students and staff ate together. We played the news footage from Downsview's Orange Shirt Day, and then the  video Downsview students created to introduce themselves to the students of Cross Lake.

It was so nice hearing the students at Mikisew cheer when they heard good things about their school on the news! And the pride that could be felt as everyone turned to watch familiar faces appeared on screen. The students at Mikisew made five movies throughout the week. All of them took on the personality of the camera people, light and sound personal in charge of each shoot. 

We are very thankful to have met Anna McKay, Mikisew's principal, VP Myrna Blacksmith, and Elaine Beardy the school's Guidance councillor.

 Student dances were fantastic!

Everything was just so perfect. Thank you all again for a fantastic week. We can't wait to see what happens next! Hopefully, we see you in Toronto soon!