A Gray Buffalo Singers perform at the Humboldt Public School's National Day for Truth and Reconciliation event on Sept. 30. (Submitted photo/Humboldt Public School)

By Becky Zimmer

Truth and reconciliation in Humboldt

Humboldt Public honour residential school children with days for truth and reconciliation

Oct 4, 2021 | 12:20 PM

Sept. 30 was a special day for communities across the country, including students and teachers at Humboldt Public School (HPS) who recently acknowledged National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with different activities.

Driving along the school’s property that runs along Highway 5 in Humboldt, passersby can still see orange ribbons tied to the chain link fence.

Truth and reconciliation committee member and teacher, Michelle Lafayette told northeastNOW that each of the 350 students tied a ribbon to honour those children who did not make it home from Canadian residential schools.

Two songs were also performed by the Gray Buffalo Singers.

Lead singer, Jeff Longman told northeastNOW that he wanted to honour survivors and the children at the residential school and share his culture with the HPS students.

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“Our culture is something that should be brought back to school within the school, to show them like our, our way of life. Just to bring back the language to our culture.”

“In Honour of the Children” is a song composed by Longman’s son, Jared Bird, which was performed along with the song, “Truly Missing You.” Both songs can be found on Spotify.

​Bryan McNabb Jr., Superintendent of Indigenous Education with Horizon School Division, supported HPS’s committee in creating a day to acknowledge truth and reconciliation and invited the Gray Buffalo Singers to the school.

McNabb had the opportunity to attend and told northeastNOW that he was impressed with the symbolic day and the planning of the committee.

“Since worldwide attention now is being given to the survivors, the children who have now been found, and those who have yet to be found, it is important to have that discussion with students,” said Lafayette.

All 350 students tied orange ribbons to the chain link fence surrounding Humboldt Public School on Sept. 30 to honour residential school survivors and those who never made it home. (Submitted photo/Humboldt Public School)

“All the way from pre K to grade eight, we are bringing information to them at their own level so they can understand.”

“Teachers do this every day,” she said. “About many important topics, from racism to gender identity, and it is amazing to see how students grow and accept their fellow students, even if that is harder for adults to understand.”

“We’re an environment right now that accepts differences and a lot of adults have not been in that environment, didn’t grow up with that, so it’s harder for adults to understand that. Children are just like, okay, you’re different, we’ll accept you and love you.”

Even with the passing of Sept. 30, Lafayette said the committee will continue to plan events throughout the year that will honour and encourage truth and reconciliation.

“This is just the start and I think everyone that’s here is starting to explore and understand truth and reconciliation. So I feel like a lot of us personally, in figuring this out, are also figuring out how we can bring this to our students.”

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becky.zimmer@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @bex_zim