First Nations identify displays tradition and variety of pupil inhabitants and geography
POWELL RIVER, BC, Sept. 25, 2023 /CNW/ – The Powell River Board of Schooling has adopted ‘qathet’ – a gifted ayajuthem phrase which signifies working collectively, as the brand new identify for the college district. Efficient instantly, the district will go ahead as qathet Faculty District in all communications and can provoke the authorized and legislative course of to do the identical.
Eradicating the identify Powell from the District’s identify is important; he was the primary superintendent of Indian Affairs in British Columbia who reigned for 17 years and represents a colonial construction that oppressed and harmed First Nations folks in numerous methods.
“As a college district we’ve a accountability to create the circumstances that can present the highest quality of schooling for each pupil to achieve faculty and life. A brand new identify alerts that we worth all college students and are dedicated to constructing robust relationships transferring ahead,” stated Dale Lawson, Board Chair, qathet Faculty District.
The Board of Trustees publicly expressed its dedication to a reputation change in 2022. The timing of in the present day’s announcement, days earlier than the Nationwide Day for Fact and Reconciliation, appeared acceptable.
“Our dedication to Indigenous schooling in faculties and our efforts in direction of decolonization and Indigenization run all yr; nevertheless, this week, as we shine a light-weight on the historical past and legacy of the colonial system, we are able to now join the educational to the identify change resolution as a concrete instance of motion for college students and likewise open dialogue round dangerous naming practices,” Dale continued. “We all know that altering our identify is however one step in our reconciliation efforts and our dedication to advancing the implementation of the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Individuals, but it surely is a crucial one and we’re grateful to the Tla’amin Nation for working with us on this endeavour.”
“As we speak, we’re witnessing one thing essential. An schooling system that was as soon as used to strip our identification, language and tradition is adopting our ayajuthem language for its new identify. This alteration marks a brand new day in our relationship and what may very well be higher than “qathet”, which suggests working collectively. The varsity district identify change makes our area’s schooling system safer and extra hospitable for Tla’amin youngsters and all Indigenous college students” stated Hegus John S. Hackett of Tla’amin Nation.
The prevalence of ‘qathet’ being utilized by different establishments within the area, and the area itself, additionally gave the Board of Trustees confidence that this identify would supply ease of adoption by its college students, employees, dad and mom and the group. The District additionally has two faculties past the Metropolis limits of Powell River, however throughout the qathet Regional District.
In partnership with Tla’amin, a naming ceremony might be deliberate later within the yr to formally have fun our new identify. The prevailing faculty district brand, with a reputation edit, will stay in impact for an interim interval till a complete new brand, model and visible establish is created and rolled out within the 2023/2024 faculty yr.
qathet Faculty District is located within the stunning coastal group on the Higher Sunshine Coast, about 150 km north of Vancouver, surrounded by the qathet Regional District and on the normal territory of the Tla’amin Nation. The District serves roughly 3,400 college students in 5 elementary faculties, one distant island elementary faculty, one on-line studying faculty, an alternate faculty, and one secondary faculty. All however 2 ‘bricks and mortar’ faculties are throughout the Metropolis of Powell River.
SOURCE SD 47 – Powell River Board of Schooling
For additional info: Kristy Payne, Communications, , Cellphone: 604 414 2622