Can you imagine…if as a child, I was physically taken from my mom and dad to live in a school?
Can you imagine…if at my school I had to change my appearance, my hair, and my dress?
Can you imagine…if at my school I was not allowed to use the name my parents gave me? Instead, I was given a new name.
Can you imagine…I was not allowed to speak my language or practice my beliefs?
Can you imagine…if I broke the rules, rules I did not understand or even know, I was beaten or humiliated?
Can you imagine…even if I did not break the rules, I was abused?
Can you imagine…a childhood lost? I could not play. I had to grow up overnight. I needed to survive.

Because I survived, I…lost my identity, my language, and my beliefs.
Because I survived, I…have become dependent on others.
Because I survived, I…lost my personal connections with others, including my family.
Because I survived, I…no longer trust.
Because I survived, I…have some issues, including substance abuses and mental health issues.
Because I survived, I…have an unconscious inferiority complex. I was always told I was bad, I was not good enough.
Because I survived, I…do not feel safe or secure.

I am very thankful that this did not happen to me, but it did happen to a People. It happened in Canadian residential schools. It happened to generations of First Nations people in Canada. Canada had 80 residential schools and over 150,000 children went through these schools. The last residential school closed in 1996, just 18 years ago. The Canadian govenment followed a policy of “Kill the Indian in the child.”  We tried to isolate and remove children from the influences of their families and community.  The film, We Were Children shows the issue of residential schools. Here is a short trailer of the film:

I am not writing this to assign blame. I am writing this hoping to be part of a solution. Canada’s history, with respect to our aboriginal population, is a history of genocide (diseases and sterilization) and cultural genocide. We attempted to rob a People of their beliefs, language, history, spirituality, and way of life – their culture.

Today, I attended a workshop regarding the Impact of Residential Schools. The workshop had a moving presentation from three high school students from Fort MacLeod. Their presentation focused on how the history of residential schools has a generational effect on the current First Nations youth of today. Following their presentation, Dr. Betty Bastien gave a very informative presentation of the history and issues surrounding the legacy of residential schools.

What now? The term ‘reconcile’ means to restore friendly relationships. If we truly want to restore friendly relationships, the issue of residential schools cannot be ignored. I was not part of the decision to implement residential schools, but it is part of my history. Residential schools are part of my history as a Canadian. As a teacher, it is part of my classroom. I have students who suffer from generational effects of residential schools.

• We must…recognize the wrong. Prime Minister Harper recognized the wrong in his apology in the House of Commons. We must recognize the wrong in our schools and classrooms. In Alberta’s Curriculum Redesign, students in Alberta will learn about the history and legacy of residential schools.

• We must…learn. Educators need to learn about residential schools and their effects. Likewise, we need to learn about our treaty: yes, our treaty. We are all treaty people, the general Canadian population and First Nations.

• We must…listen. Sometimes we give people a token ear, but we do not listen. We hear, but do not listen. We must listen to the survivors of residential schools.  The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has done this for Canada, but we need to do it for our local community.  Until we do this, we cannot move forward in rebuilding our relationships.

• We must…look in the mirror. We need to decide what we can do better. We must create an environment that does not focus on “us” and “them”, but develops a community of “we”.

• We must…find ways to engage our First Nations community in our schools. We cannot simply invite, we needs to finds ways to empower our First Nations community to be active. Education is their new buffalo.

The wrongs of residential schools will not disappear tomorrow, nor is there a quick solution. Hopefully together, we can start the process of reconciliation and healing. The longest journey starts with a single step. It is time to start walking together.

Khrystos Voskres! Voistyno Voskres! We have just recently come back from our Easter break. Often we get focused on our Lenten journey and Christ’s Passion before Easter that we do not get excited about being an Easter people. Do not just celebrate the Lenten journey, but celebrate the destination. In the Ukrainian culture it is tradition to greet someone after Easter saying “Khrystos Voskres!” which means Christ is Risen. The response to this greeting is “Voistyno Voskres!” which means He is Truly Risen. As we continue to celebrate being an Easter people, I ask you to remember Christ’s example of unconditional love and devotion to God, and let us truly praise His resurrection.

Thank you to all the parents and staff that completed our recent ThoughtStream. The information gathered in this community input tool will truly guide us in the creation of our Continuous Improvement Plan for next year. Also, thank you to all the members of our learning community that completed our survey about the 2014-15 bell times. By now, you have probably heard about the decision to continue to follow the Balanced School Day. Please see my recent blog for more information regarding this decision.

Congratulations to the participants and winners of our Science Fair and the Regional Science Fair. Our Assumption School students did an awesome job! Please check inside this newsletter for more information on the participants and their results. A thank you is extended to all of the students for their submissions. I would also like to thank Mrs. Graf, Mrs. Lank, and Mrs. Kraemer for their leadership with the Science Fair.

As you may know, our school community has raised close to $280,000 for Jump Rope for Heart over the past 31 years. We are one of only a few schools in all of Canada that have accomplished this. Thank you for supporting the event and thanks everyone who worked on the committee.

Our Grade 5 parents have been busy planning for the Spring Fling Bingo which will occur on Friday, May 30th from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00p.m. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m., so come early to get a good seat. All parents are welcome to donate prizes. Prizes may be dropped off at the office. The Spring Fling Bingo is a very important community event so we’d love to have you attend. Funds raised at the bingo support next year’s Grade 6 SABC trip (any extra funds will go to our playground project).

Have a terrific May!

Greg Kostiuk