A group of Belmont Secondary students had a chance to learn about Indigenous cultures in a different way this month.
Two Grade 11 social studies classes, led by Dayna Christ-Rowling, used pieces of Coast Salish art as inspiration. They then came up with an inquiry question and a project that answered or explored that topic.
B次元官网网址淭hey had a lot of assumptions B次元官网网址� that was really a big eye opener for them,B次元官网网址� Christ-Rowling said.
The project, as she explained, challenges students to get outside of their comfort zones while still putting a piece of themselves in their work.
The pieces students used as inspiration were on loan from the Salish Weave Collection, which is a large private collection of contemporary Coast Salish art from artists who mostly reside on traditional Coast Salish territories in B.C.
B次元官网网址淭his is the first time this collection has been used in a high school setting,B次元官网网址� Christ-Rowling said, noting the pieces are usually used as visuals for story telling. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an interesting project B次元官网网址� You could really look at the art and see anything.B次元官网网址�
Some of the topics covered included the Highway of Tears, Aboriginal history, traditional medicinal plants, iconic figures and the growth of the LGBTQ community within Aboriginal communities. Those topics translated into projects that included a rap, homemade tea, baked goods, presentations, diagrams and much more.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e unique, just like the paintings,B次元官网网址� explained Razel Henndra as she gestured to the magnitude of different projects around the room.
HenndraB次元官网网址檚 project examined CanadaB次元官网网址檚 aboriginal history in comparison to Indonesia B次元官网网址� her own cultural background.
Her timeline starts with smallpox epidemics and continues to modern political statements. It even includes their service in the first and second World Wars, a subject Henndra found particularly interesting.
B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 know when Aboriginal people went to war they lost their rights when they came back,B次元官网网址� she said, referring to those who lost their status upon their return. B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 kind of sad, I donB次元官网网址檛 think our country is aware of our deep, dark history.B次元官网网址�
Elder Henry Chipps was also in attendance to help guide the students and offer insights. B次元官网网址淭heir projects are quite informative B次元官网网址� TheyB次元官网网址檙e our future,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚n the past, there was no Aboriginal content, now thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot.B次元官网网址�
But as Christ-Rowling added, B次元官网网址渋tB次元官网网址檚 not just for the students, the last part is to teach others.B次元官网网址�
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