RECIPIENTS OF GRANTS IN SUPPORT
OF SOCIAL JUSTICE LEARNING
2017-2018
Strathcona Founding Cultures Strathcona High School, Edmonton
This program provided a welcoming space for cultural exchanges for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students and served to Indigenize spaces at their school. It utilized both traditional and contemporary knowledge to develop students’ capacity for leadership skills through leading sharing circles, group facilitation, and event planning. The Founding Cultures program aims to provide a physical space with culturally relevant aids, mentors, food and supplies that can enhance students’ learning growth and achievement. Moving forward, the school will have the Aboriginal Studies 30 class timetabled to recognize the importance of highlighting Indigenous voices and normalize justice in their school.
Student Voices:
"[The Founding Cultures Program] helps me feel better about my schoolwork and [has] helped me see what careers I can consider in the future."
"{The Program] creates an open and inclusive environment."
"I think that [through] having support like the cultural liaison and founding cultures club, they can establish community and find friendship, support, and purpose within the walls of our school."
Staff Voices:
"As a staff member I have someone I can go to for information on Indigenous issues, and I know that there is one other person trying to look out for the needs of certain at-risk students."
Kitscoty Elementary Reconciliation Mural Kitscoty Elementary School, Kitscoty
Métis artist, Leah Dorion, will spend a week as an artist-in-residence at Kitscoty Elementary School, painting a mural with the theme of reconciliation and walking both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students alike through a variety of activities to build empathy and compassion for Indigenous peoples with a focus on reconciliation. This project is critical in the rural Albertan context and will feature an open house to unveil the mural to the public.
Delia School Gay Straight Alliance Delia School, Delia
The GSA at Delia, the first and only GSA in their school division, seeks to educate staff and students about LGBTQ+ topics to reduce intolerance and ignorance, as well as creating a safe and caring space for students to express themselves without fear of being judged or bullied. The GSA undertook several activities this year, including 1) regular GSA meetings 2) a presentation to Grade 7 - 12 from a past Delia student which explored her coming out story and encouraged acceptance and 3) a mural project contest for students to create a mural which supports connecting, belonging, safety and inclusion..
Student Voices:
"From being in the GSA, I learned the importance of being kind to everyone, and keeping an open mind about things that you might not totally understand. I learned that it is important to treat everyone with respect as fellow human beings, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, or other characteristics."
"GSA has taught me a lot of things about the LGBTQ+ community that I never knew, as well as grow friendships and make me more accepting of others."
Staff Voices:
""It is incredibly valuable and important for students to hear messages about diversity and equality from many voices. Our visit from [the presenter] was informative, honest, and impactful. Our students not only took away learning about the LGBTQ* spectrum, they also gained insight into identity in general."
Building Community Didsbury Career High School, Didsbury
This community-building undertaking provided students at multiple intersections of marginalization an opportunity to be engaged citizens through partnerships with community organizations. The project undertook a wide variety of activities from forming a GSA, to volunteering at senior housing, to learning about mental health, to strengthening cultural knowledge for First Nations, Métis and Inuit students. These partnerships worked to change students’ perceived relationships to the wider community, reduce stigma, and prove to the students themselves their value and dignity.
Student Voices:
"It feels like our community is growing. I feel more connected at school and in town, especially because of group activities."
"Coming to the GSA, I feel like this is a safe time for me to relax and have fun with people who don't care who I am. And the snacks are awesome."
"We feel we have connected to the Didsbury community very well. I love to volunteer and meet new people."
Hearts and Hands Club Mary Hanley Catholic School, Edmonton
This club is dedicated to student-led initiatives to use their hearts and hands to serve others. For example, the students used looms to knit scarves and hats for people in need and will be making sandwiches and lunches for the hungry using vegetables planted and harvested from the school’s Tower Garden. The club advanced the mission of social justice by providing students opportunities to use their talents to serve others and demonstrate respect for the dignity of others. Students were empowered through their involvement in activities that were meaningful and contributed to the well-being of others.
Student Voices:
"I felt really included and it was a lot of fun for me. I felt like I was being kind when I was knitting hats for people who don't have it in the winter. My favourite project was painting the planters for the garden. When we grow things that we can actually eat, because then people can eat it."
"I felt good because helping people in need is good."
"I love to help out. Hearts and Hands Club helps bring smiles to students and teachers."
Cultural Exchange Caroline School, Caroline
This program created a cultural exchange between about 20 students from the Caroline School and the Sunchild School on the Sunchild Reserve so that students become bold advocates within their communities and develop strong bonds that extend past the classroom. The Sunchild Reserve provided activites such as drumming & a traditional sweat lodge, and the Caroline School had students spend a day working on experiential learning activities so that students worked together to solve problems. The schools plan to continue continuing this exchange, so that the students' relationships can deepen.
Student Voices:
"The exchange between our school and Sunchild was very eye-opening. It allowed me to break down barriers between schools and race and see that when it all comes down to it, we are all human and created equally. I was able to make new friends and relationships and meet people that I never would have otherwise. I hope that this tradition continues for years to come."
"I enjoyed spending time with people that I would not otherwise have met. I was able to learn more about the modern culture of Indigenous Canadian people...We formed connections with our counterparts in Sunchild and we will continue to remember and visit each other as a result of the visit."
""My favourite part was dancing and listening to their singing and also the beading was a great experience."
Our Water, Our Future Westmount School, Okotoks
This collaborative project between Westmount and Chief Jacob Bearspaw School on the Eden Valley Reserve will studied the impacts of logging on the Highwood River. This project aimed to engage students in activism for environmental sustainability while also working collaboratively in the spirit of Reconciliation because we are all Treaty people and have a collective responsibility to the land, the water, and each other. The collaboration featured several joint activities between the schools, including a blanket exercise, cultural workshops & sharing, water quality testing, and a pow wow.
Student Voices:
"The blanket exercise was really eye-opening. I had no idea what residential schools were prior [to this collaboration], so it really hit me. I think we should open that up to parents and stuff because it's important for people to know and shift from being ignorant. It's been really emotional, but really powerful to learn this."
"The experience I had as an ambassador was insightful, as well as joyous. The knowledge I acquired during the meetings was more than what I could have been taught in a classroom., being able to see the environment of the school and to see the culture room was a real eye-opener to how and why they currently teach the students about Aboriginal culture. The importance of rejecting the Aboriginal stereotype has always been important to me, however this experience has enhanced my reasoning to why we reject the stereotypes...I am grateful to be a part of this project and to be educated about First Nations culture."
"First off, getting to meet the kids at Chief Jacob Bearspaw School was actually a little nerve-wracking for myself, but luckily [our teacher] had many activities to get to know each other. After the first bit I soon realized that we all share same interests whether it's in video games or sports. During our second meeting, we went to their school and it was really awesome to see their culture being mixed into what they are learning....You could see how proud they were of their school. It was a real eye-opener to the stereotypes they are faced against and how wrong it is to stereotype. For the rest of the meeting, it was always exciting to catch up with each other telling them new stories and just getting to know each other more."
Social Justice and Street Art Next Step High School, Sherwood Park
Students worked with local Edmonton street artist thinkITEM to create and document a street art project that raised awareness of a student-chosen social justice issues and showcased it to the community. thinkITEM lead in-school seminars, and students worked collaborative to develop their own street art. The students created five art pieces: an album cover, a button, a sticker, logo packaging, and a T-shirt graffiti stencil.
Student Voices:
"I learned more about how graffiti can be a very unique way to express an opinion and learned about the many important social justice issues and saw how my classmates visualized those issues."
"It has opened my perspective on racism and helped me become more aware of social injustices."
"I believe art really does help get a message across. Ever since I started expressing my issue, people have noticed [my issue] more since I started turning it into art."
"Exploring my issue has made me more aware of social issues and the injustices that do exist in the world. It has also made me a strong advocate for social justice issues and the changes we must make."
Staff Voices:
"From my perspective as a teacher, the students were completely engaged in this project and created some exciting and thought-provoking art to engage the school and student body. It created discussions among students and staff that were not there before. The student work now hangs in the school and is still generating the awareness and interest in various social justice issues which speaks to the continuation of this project.".
SOS: Sustaining our Seniors Wainwright Elementary School, Wainwright
Throughout the year, Grade 4 students traveled to local senior residences. The seniors and students built intergenerational friendships; the students read to them, brought cards and crafts, and they had long conversations. Both the seniors and students relished these visits and the ability to learn from each other. The students also came to the residences to sing and perform for the seniors to brighten their days. In the future, they plan to have the seniors attend the school as well.
Student Voices::
""Going to the seniors is fun. It makes me happy because I am making someone else happy. I know they are happy because they smile and laugh as I am reading to them."
"Sometimes they tell us stories about their lives. It makes me feel good to hear their stories. We get to read to them and they feel good when they get to hear the stories we read."
Chinook Gay Straight Alliance Documentary Project Chinook High School, Lethbridge
The Chinook GSA would like to film, produce and premiere a documentary which examines the struggles, triumphs and daily lives of LGBTQ+ youth in the unique context of Southern Alberta. The project will develop the students’ interview and curatorial skills and connect students in rural Alberta together by hosting screenings in several communities.
West 6 Reconciliation Project Prince Charles School, Sherwood School,
Belmead School, Brightview School, Edmonton
This project deepened students’ understanding of the 94 Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission through workshops with respected Indigenous Elders and facilitators from the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights. After learning about reconciliation efforts happening across the city, the students worked in groups to come up with their own ideas on how to advance reconciliation. The projects were implemented throughout the year, and will continue into the future to cement the schools' commitment to reconciliation between First Nation, Metis, and Inuit communities and settlers in Canada.
Student Voices:
"I thought it was a very good experience to learn about Indigenous peoples. It really opened my eyes to see what went on (how residential schools impacted so many people). It was a good experience to see how we can help out and how we can help people who had to go through that. We did, a long time ago, the Heart Garden and we planted hearts for the people who had to go through residential school and also the people who passed on in residential school. You really got to pay your respects and remember so that never happens again."
Saints Social Justice Team’s Water Conference St. Joseph Catholic High School, Edmonton
The Saints Social Justice Team is a group of students whose mission is to educate and empower people to make substantial and sustainable change both locally and globally. The Aspen Foundation will supported one of their initiatives, a Water Conference. Students learned about water issues locally in Canada by learning about the importance of protecting and providing drinking water in rural and First Nations Communities, and globally by fundraising to provide clean water filters in India and post-hurricane Puerto Rico. The conference featured bannock and stew and some of the Indigenous students danced for the others in attendance. The conference created awareness, and sparked compassion and new friendships.
Student Voices:
"From a planning perspective, I learned how to work as a team, problem solve, and trouble shoot. I also learned new techniques to organize something this big. One of the lessons we learned was the importance of communication with our team."
"I learned about the Athabasca water shed system. I learned a lot about the Indigenous perspective of water usage, and what we have done to it in Canada - the changes [Indigenous people] have seen in the past few generations."
"Overall, I thought it was really educational and fun! It was neat to combine local, national, and international issues and it all felt personal. I now feel like as an individual, I can help."
Making All Cultures Visible St. Theresa Middle School, Sherwood Park
With the support of the Aspen Foundation, the school created a multicultural centre to support diversity. The cultural centre was designed to be a place where students' different cultures were celebrated, embraced, and practiced. The centre featured multilingual signage and an extensive collection of bilingual books. This created a safe space for students to feel at home. Read about the Multicultural Centre here.
Student Voices:
""I think it's a fun place for everyone who is in different cultures. They can experience what it is like to be with other people in different cultures...and everyone can be welcomed in it."
"I think it's important because it helps you communicate with other people, so you know how to communicate with them better, so you understand them better."