The public is invited to a special session of the School District 27’s teacher’s professional development day Friday morning.
The session will be a panel discussion on the generational impact of residential schools on First Nations students of residential schools and their families, says Jerome Beauchamp, SD 27 director of instruction, education services.
Beauchamp says the panel leaders will be the lakecity’s Phyllis Webstad who will be joined by two B.C. Grand Chiefs.
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip is president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs and Grand Chief Edward John is from the First Nations Summit, says Beauchamp, who is helping to organize the event with Esk’etemc Chief Fred Robbins.
He says both Stewart was recently the Northern representative for indigenous people at the United Nations.
The panelists will answer six initial questions posed by event organizers then the floor will be opened to questions from the audience.
Beauchamp says the session is a fantastic opportunity for people learn about the generational impact of residential schools and about what is being done to help people move forward in the healing process.
The session takes place Friday, April 26 from 9 a.m. to noon in the Williams Lake Secondary School Commons.
So far he says 80 people are registered for the session including a group of students from Quesnel. While he says no one will be turned away from the session, organizers would like people to register so that they can plan to have enough seating.
To register for the session contact Rayna Carpenter at 250-398-3855 or by e-mail at rayna.carpenter@sd27.bc.ca.