Occasionally in life we are given an opportunity to meet tragedy and pain with courage and conviction. This year has been all of that and more for LDSS students, staff and administrators
as we reflected on the horrors of residential schools and colonization. Amidst the river of tears we collectively cried there emerged a sense of unity, determination and profound transformation. Rather than allowing ourselves to drown in sadness, we rose to the surface and started paddling forward together.
Our collaborative art installation was started in February 2016. Everyone who set foot in our school, from students and staff to trustees and community members were invited to spend time in the metal shop cutting, ling and shaping out a feather to place on the eagle that would sit atop our majestic tree. On each feather there is engraved a message chosen by the individual to represent what they have learned. These are messages of hope and love and new understandings which will be held in trust by the eagle in our midst.
The spirit of joy and healing wafted through the school as each class joined Jeremy Gooding in the shop to craft their own unique feather. You could sense a resolve in the students as they hammered away. Mr. Gooding’s Choices class and Mrs. Giesbrecht’s Endeavors class were instrumental in this process. They were the first groups to learn how to use the various instruments to shape the metal feathers and they designed and built the prototypes. These students became the experts as they helped their peers through the process. The First Nations studies class also held leadership roles as we led each class through the creative process.
The whole school watched in amazement as Steve Wilejto and Jeremy Gooding built the internal structure of the eagle. It had to be both sturdy and beautiful to satisfy and of course it was both.
Red Seal Welder, Jordan Gooding, joined the process as the welding continued and the feathers were tacked into place. Countless hours were spent shaping the eagle and ensuring that every message had a spot. The hopes and dreams of all of us were embodied in that beautiful bird and the vision that it carried had to feel just right.
We chose the eagle as a fitting symbol for rising above the destructive and stormy impact of our collective experience with residential schools. From high above, he can see what we cannot. The eagle represents strength, new beginnings and resilience. The eagle is the resolution. From the towering peaks of Tweedsmuir Park to the vast shores of Babine Lake, the Eagle is a symbol for us all and the beautiful place we call home.
Shortly after Spring Break the Eagle took a journey of its own to be coated in a copper solution in Kelowna. Copper was used in our region by many First Peoples and we believed it would be both appropriate and stunning! As we await the Eagle’s return we are placing our focus on the tree which will be used as a pedestal. It was handpicked from the shores of Ootsa Lake and contains six roots symbolizing the six traditional groups in the Lakes district area.
We culminated our year-long journey with a celebration where we invited the community, Hereditary Chiefs, and ‘grass roots’ guests to unveil the eagle and share traditional food and music.
Enjoy the photo galleries and please contact us if you have any questions. We will continue to add photos and information of related school and community developments done since the Roots of Reconciliation project.
