SEPTEMBER 20, 2024 | Walking Together Day

Indigenous-focused professional development for teachers and principals is crucial for fostering an inclusive and equitable education system. It equips educators with the cultural knowledge, historical understanding, and teaching strategies needed to support Indigenous students' success and well-being. By deepening their awareness of Indigenous perspectives, histories, and contemporary issues, educators can create learning environments that are respectful and affirming of Indigenous identities. This professional development also promotes reconciliation by addressing the legacy of colonialism in education and empowering teachers and principals to actively contribute to decolonizing curricula and practices. Ultimately, it strengthens relationships with Indigenous communities and enhances the educational experience for all students.

Location: Gulf Islands Secondary School (GISS) | Gymnasium
Time: 9:00 am – 3:15 pm
Water Taxi Schedule

Gathering Plan

8:30 am – 9:00 am       |  Drumming (optional)
9:00 am – 9:30 am       |  Welcome, Land Acknowledgment & Introductions
9:30 am – 10:45 am     |  Keynote Speaker – Angela Sterritt
10:45 am – 10:55 am   |  Break
10:55 am – 12:15 pm   |  Panel Discussion Walking Alongside Indigenous Youth with Caroline Dick, Krysta Furioso, Sulatiye' (Maiya Modest) & Angela Sterritt
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm     |  Lunch by Cheff Mark Kilner
1:30 pm – 1:50 pm       |  Presentation by Superintendent Jill Jensen  Strategic Direction 2024 – 2028
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm       |  Workshops (details below)
3:00 pm  – 3:15 pm      |  Closing

Keynote Speaker | Angela Sterritt

Honoring Our Ancestors: Empowering the Next Generation of  Indigenous Leaders and Allies

Acclaimed investigative journalist, TV, and podcast host and bestselling author Angela Sterritt speaks about the power of story, the power of belief, and the supernatural power of change in this empowering and trauma-informed keynote. She shares her story of surviving the streets, abuse, and a cutthroat news industry and rising above adversity with compassion, curiosity, and courage. Through the gifts we all are born with, Sterritt offers an opportunity not just to learn but to give back and create the metamorphosis we all crave.  

Workshops

Land Acknowledgement Workshop | Caroline Dick

Caroline Dick, of Tahltan and Irish heritage, serves as the Indigenous Coordinator at Salt Spring Library. A GISS alumna who grew up on Salt Spring Island, Caroline will lead a workshop on creating meaningful Land Acknowledgements. The session will delve into the purpose and significance of Land Acknowledgements while also addressing the challenges and misunderstandings that often arise around them.
Location | Multi

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Cultural Appropriation Workshop | Krysta Furioso

Krysta Furioso, an Anishinaabekwe from Fort William First Nation, will provide valuable insights on the topic of Cultural Appropriation. She will offer essential knowledge for educators dedicated to engaging in Reconciliation, helping them navigate this critical aspect of cultural awareness and respect.

Location | GISS Gymnasium

DRIPPA & Standard 9 | Lorna Fraser & Jill Jensen

Lorna Fraser (Interim Principal of Indigenous Education) and Jill Jensen (Superintendent) facilitate a dialogue about the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan (DRIPPA) and Standard 9 (Professional Standards for BC Educators).

Standard 9: Educators respect and value the history of First Nations, Inuit and Metis in Canada and the impact of the past on the present and the future. Educators contribute towards truth, reconciliation and healing. Educators foster a deeper understanding of ways of knowing and being, histories, and cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Metis.

Location | N205

Cultivating Safe Spaces in Relation to Indigenous Education Workshop | Cheryl Ruff

Cheryl Ruff, an Anishinaabekwe from Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, serves as the District Coordinator for Indigenous Languages and Culture with SD64. She will lead a workshop on creating culturally safe spaces for Indigenous students in our schools while also discussing the broader purpose of Indigenous Education for all students and staff.

Location | N207

Land-Based Learning Workshop | Sulatiye' (Maiya Modest) 

Location | Outside or N204 (if the weather isn't suitable)