On Friday, June 21, National Indigenous Peoples Day, staff gathered at the Vancouver School Board (VSB) Education Centre to celebrate and honour Indigenous peoples. The VSB Education Centre, situated on the ancestral and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) & səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, was lively throughout the day with speeches, performances and cultural workshops.

Performances for Staff and Students

The front lawn of the Education Centre on the corner of 10th and Fir Street was alive with drumming, singing and dancing by several artists. Community members nearby were also invited to witness or participate in the day’s cultural performances. Chas Desjarlais, VSB’s Director of Instruction for Indigenous Education, reflected on seeing some young students from Tennyson Elementary sitting, dancing and singing along. “The young ones know what it means to be inclusive,” remarked Desjarlais. “Their natural curiosity to learn brings me hope.” 

Slahal Bone Game and Squamish Teachings

The afternoon offered a series of workshops to deepen understanding of Indigenous cultures. From cedar brushing to Métis dancing, participants immersed themselves in learning experiences. Ian MacPhee from the District’s recruitment department attended the Slahal Bone Game and Squamish Teachings with Latashkinem because it was something he had not heard of before. “The facilitator did a really good job describing what it’s like to play this game within an Indigenous community with different groups playing against each other and the various strategies they use to try to win. Just a lot of fun and nice to immerse yourself in that environment in a small way.”

Pow Wow Workshop

Similarly, another workshop participant from the District’s Health and Safety department Tina Lau found the Pow Wow Dance 101 workshop enlightening, saying, “It appealed to my interest in incorporating body movement into this day of learning. I was pleasantly surprised to learn what to expect at a pow wow, making me feel more comfortable attending one in the future.” She added, “The most impactful lesson was understanding the origins of some dance moves and the significance of the regalia worn. Now, I can recognize these movements, like the grass dance, and appreciate their power and deeper meanings!”

Importance of Learning

When asked about the importance of these workshops for staff Desjarlais shared, “Indigenous histories, languages and cultures have really only been included in the curriculum in a meaningful, relevant and culturally appropriate way now since 2016. This means there is a huge demographic of society who have not benefited from the curriculum’s inclusion of Indigenous knowledges and pedagogies.” Chas adds, “It is time for society in general to see Indigenous brilliance that is embodied in Indigenous histories, languages and cultures.”

For the District, June 21 was a special day for people to gather and celebrate, thank you to all the staff who joined this event. To read more about other events from this year visit the news section of our website.