Introduction to the Residential School Bundle

The Residential School Bundle Training session held January 14th, and 15th opens with setting up a chair with a blanket and children's moccasins to acknowledge the children who did not survive residential school. The chair and moccasins are a warm image to remember a harsh past; this sets the tone for the heavy topic set on schoolteachers to share with their classrooms. 

The bundle was written, compiled and presented by Melody Dumas, Diane Powderhorn, Betsy Mazawasicuna and Doris Der, who designed it to meet the appropriate learning needs of various age groups, from early learners to high schoolers. Through the bundle, children are taught that the generations who experienced residential schools are resilient and worked to create change after their experiences. For high school learners, topics on how and why children were sent to residential schools are delved into for further learning on the history. 

The training sessions held the 14th and 15th included reviewing the resources in the bundle, completing activities suited for the classroom, sensitive and appropriate methods of teaching on the topic and sharing circles to discuss and connect some personal experiences on the topic. Residential School Bundles were distributed to each MFNSS school to teach the topic in the classroom.