We will achieve equity of outcomes for Indigenous learners in Cariboo-Chilcotin School District. We will continue to examine our environments, structures, and practices to identify and address barriers. We are committed to continuing to strengthen relationships with First Nation communities as rightsholders and collaborate with community partners who support Indigenous children and youth and their families. We will embed learning about Indigenous culture, perspectives, and language in the daily experience of learners in our schools. Some examples of the work of our plan are:
- District-wide staff learning about Truth and Reconciliation, local Indigenous culture, Circle of Courage and trauma-informed practice
- Planned school-wide culture learning aligned with calendar of local cultural seasonal activities
- Visible language and culture across schools (Knowledge keepers in schools, ceremony, welcome signage, elders posters)
- Review of school libraries and resource collections and additional funding for Authentic First Peoples Resources
- Recognizing cultural learning in community with graduation program credits (local Independent Directed Study framework)
- Meaningful engagement of schools and district in Local Education Agreements (LEA)
- Re-engagement with Equity in Action
Explore the ways we are LEARNING BETTER TOGETHER for equity for Indigenous students and learning about local Indigenous culture for all students and staff:
Horse Lake Students Treated to Indigenous Trapping Presentation
Horse Lake Elementary
<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Horse Lake Elementary students recently learned about Indigenous ways of securing food and pelts through trapping. Greg and Karen Pellerin demonstrated some of the trapping methods they used to capture animals, and they also brought along a number of furs that they had tanned and preserved. Students were able to see how the traps operated, as well as touch a variety of furs from animals trapped locally.</span></p><table class="editor-table"><colgroup><col><col></colgroup><tbody><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/951bb0ce-9b4f-4050-a46e-9d62aa5ae56a?fingerprint=ppb20260306031631" alt="Horse Lake Students Treated to Indigenous Trapping Presentation1 Murray Helmer" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/aa747427-14df-4f67-a03e-ad1211ef9908?fingerprint=ppb20260306031631" alt="Horse Lake Students Treated to Indigenous Trapping Presentation2 Murray Helmer" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th></tr></tbody></table><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>
Indigenous Artwork Enhances School Entrance
Horse Lake Elementary
<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Horse Lake Elementary recently upgraded its entryway with the addition of a specially commissioned carving by Spirit Carver Dean Gilpin, originally from the Redstone Reserve near Puntzi Lake. Dean is known for 'making the wood speak', and his creation features his take on the "Circle of Courage" framed within six carved feathers. Flanking Dean's work are ceramic tiles onto which our students painted their versions of indigenous plants and animals. We thank the District's Indigenous Education Council for the support of our project.</span></p><table class="editor-table"><colgroup><col><col></colgroup><tbody><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/73b81a34-880b-4434-ad97-18cc0df73004?fingerprint=ppb20260204071054" alt="Carving 1 Murray Helmer" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/cecf4e66-65ce-4a71-9d8d-a1955007f040?fingerprint=ppb20260204071054" alt="Carving 2 Murray Helmer" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th></tr></tbody></table><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>
Horse Lake Students Help Erect Teepee For Outdoor Learning Space
Horse Lake Elementary
<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Tony Solomon spent the day working with our students on how to construct teepees and educating us on their cultural significance. Students started with building a 10 foot ‘learning teepee’ that everyone could help with, and it was large enough to accommodate the entire kindergarten class. After recess, we graduated to a 20 foot model, also built with student assistance, that will grace our school ground as another outdoor learning structure. PAC members topped off our day with a soup and bannock feast for everyone involved! We appreciate the financial assistance of the Indigenous Education Council for making this learning opportunity possible.</span></p><table class="editor-table"><colgroup><col><col></colgroup><tbody><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/85646796-fb1d-488b-948a-bf32c8902949?fingerprint=ppb20260218221752" alt="Teepee 1 Murray Helmer" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/eb3666e1-51d1-4ace-be12-c1135c38db64?fingerprint=ppb20260218221752" alt="Teepee 2 Murray Helmer" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th></tr></tbody></table><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>
South End Schools Are Treated to a Day of Indigenous Learning at Tsq’escen on Indigenous Day
Forest Grove Elementary
Horse Lake Elementary
100 Mile Elementary
Mile 108 Elementary
<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Students from 100 Mile, Horse Lake, Mile 108 and Forest Grove learned how to play double ball, Lahal, and make pitch medicine. Thank-you to Eliza Archie Memorial School for hosting such a great event.</span></p><table class="editor-table" style="width: 100%; table-layout: fixed;"><colgroup><col style="width: 50%;"><col style="width: 50%;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245);"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/e4196948-7fd0-4fd1-bd9f-81f84602972b?fingerprint=ppb20260218173807" alt="treated to a day of indigenous learning1 Ty Lytton" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245);"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/a5a5658d-7c0c-4d7e-a4d0-a145f764c118?fingerprint=ppb20260218173807" alt="treated to a day of indigenous learning2 Ty Lytton" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th></tr></tbody></table><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>
Horse Lake Class Hosts Learning Pow Wow
Horse Lake Elementary
<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The grade 3/4 class at Horse Lake spent the day immersed in Indigenous culture during a recent learning Pow Wow with Mike Archie, Trish Meraw, and Lydia Dick of the Tsq̓éscen̓ First Nation at Canim Lake. The students were led through an exploration of regalia, learned how to play Lahal, and drummed while our guests danced in our outdoor learning structure. The students also enjoyed a feast which included bannock which they made the day before with our Indigenous Support Worker. Other classes joined in the festivities throughout the special day.</span></p><div data-lexical-layout-container="true" style="grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; display: grid;"><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/405ebda7-1d2a-40e2-b9c9-01f5ae3d8b2f?fingerprint=ppb20251217033943" alt="Horse Lake Class Hosts Learning Pow Wow" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></div><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/4be096e4-3fc5-4e3a-9db2-98ad57027dae?fingerprint=ppb20251217034010" alt="Horse Lake Class Hosts Learning Pow Wow" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></div></div><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>
WLFN Brings Drum Circle To Horse Lake Elementary
Horse Lake Elementary
<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Horse Lake Elementary staff and students were thrilled to host Danikka Murphy and William Lulua of WLFN as they brought their Drum Circle to our school. They described the cultural significance of the drum as a 'heartbeat' and showed the students how they were constructed and maintained. William and Danikka then taught the students a Welcome Song and handed out drums to perform together with our students. Mrs. Pugh's grade 7 class were invited to accompany the performance using drums they had made from hides that were tanned by last year's graduating class. Having 200 students perform as one was a powerful moment for our school!</span></p><div data-lexical-layout-container="true" style="grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; display: grid;"><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/f1bd51a5-a3fe-4987-be4d-ac7ac49dc008?fingerprint=ppb20251217040511" alt="WLFN Brings Drum Circle To Horse Lake Elementary" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></div><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/2c556c13-8779-47f3-8d81-0f09f03370b5?fingerprint=ppb20251217033835" alt="WLFN Brings Drum Circle To Horse Lake Elementary" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></div></div><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>
Chief Willie Sellars Entertains Horse Lake Students with His Books
Horse Lake Elementary
<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Staff and students of Horse Lake Elementary were thoroughly entertained by a visit from Chief Willie Sellars of the Williams Lake First Nation, who treated us with readings from two of his children's books, Dipnetting with Dad and Hockey with Dad. Intertwined with the stories, he shared his personal stories with his own family experiences and answered questions from the students. The presentation was very interactive, with kids cheering along with his description of his hockey games, and watching with fascination when Willie shared videos of his dipnetting adventures. Our assembly ended with Willie drumming and singing to close out his entertaining visit.</span></p><div data-lexical-layout-container="true" style="grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; display: grid;"><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/7e484d4d-87c7-4f25-a83b-a7e5dcd61b7a?fingerprint=ppb20251217034556" alt="Chief Willie Sellars Entertains Horse Lake Students with His Books" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></div><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/99720971-6e6c-4100-ae9b-f23797dce7f2?fingerprint=ppb20251217035031" alt="Chief Willie Sellars Entertains Horse Lake Students with His Books" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></div></div><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>
Secwepemc Storyteller Entertains Horse Lake Students
Horse Lake Elementary
<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">First Nations performer, Kenthen Thomas, entertained our student body with his fascinating and animated retellings of legends of the Secwepemc, his family land for more than 10,000 years. He learned storytelling from his late grandmother, respected and legendary Secwepemc elder Dr. Mary Thomas. Storytelling for the Shuswap people traditionally brings entertainment to families during long winter nights, and it was fitting to have Kenthen entertain our students on a cold Friday afternoon. Kenthen told our students about how a bear and a coyote found out how to create a balance between night and day, as a way to keep history alive, tell important lessons, and share amusing anecdotes about all the creatures found on this land, all while keeping our students spellbound.</span></p><div data-lexical-layout-container="true" style="grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; display: grid;"><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/73323558-a361-5661-9e34-578cf2f11ca7?fingerprint=ppb20251217034956" alt="tdsqmigm.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></div><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/666d89e1-fa43-5619-abd7-0f8dbe71b66a?fingerprint=ppb20251217034128" alt="o5l8jar9.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></div></div><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p>
Horse Lake Kindergarten Class Visits Horse Lake Farm Cooperative
Horse Lake Elementary
<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Horse Lake Kindergarten Class revisited the Horse Lake Farm Cooperative Farm for the second of a number of recurring visits. Murray Casey, a Tsq’escenemc First Nations Elder, welcomed the students to the land by singing and drumming a First Nations welcome song. He then explained the significance of the local garden and how it has traditionally been a part of local Indigenous culture.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The kindergarten students then explored the garden with the farm program leaders and learned about the vegetables grown there. Later, they walked across fields and down to Horse Lake, observing migrating birds, and investigating gopher and badger holes. They were very curious about the badgers and were excited to learn more about them back at school.</span></p><div data-lexical-layout-container="true" style="grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; display: grid;"><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/7f37e394-e681-5623-b872-5aec1146c6a2?fingerprint=ppb20251217034556" alt="i8f9jtke.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></div><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/dbc728ef-41ba-560b-b4ad-08c5a134d26e?fingerprint=ppb20251217040352" alt="l0m7v91z.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></div></div><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p>
Indigenous Plant Cultural Mapping
Horse Lake Elementary
<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">"Horse Lake Elementary's grade 7 class travelled to the north shore of Horse Lake to record where a variety of Indigenous plants were located and respectfully harvest some of the plants, under the guidance of their teacher, Mrs. Pugh. After harvest, some of the plants will be used for gifts for visiting elders and knowledge keepers and other plants will be re-seeded into our Indigenous Plant Garden located behind our classroom. </span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Our Indigenous Plant Garden was created in 2022 as part of a NOIIE funded project with the help of Secwepemc elder Grace Archie and Knowledge Keeper Joe Archie who guided us to discover plants around our school. This year's field trip will continue the legacy and keep the garden growing. </span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Students will continue to work with the garden in May-June when we will be transplanting smaller plants into the garden as well. Also, a cultural map of the plants we observed will be created to show others where various plants used for ceremony, food, technology, and medicine are found in our area.</span></p><div data-lexical-layout-container="true" style="grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; display: grid;"><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/24b565bb-16b1-5e3a-8bac-b49ccde91681?fingerprint=ppb20251217033808" alt="p61czvnf.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></div><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/32f7a761-fbee-5d28-bf5d-109385cba1ad?fingerprint=ppb20251217033901" alt="0o7y58bt.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></div></div><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p>
Grade 7 Students Lead Horse Lake Orange Shirt Day Assembly
Horse Lake Elementary
<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Horse Lake Elementary grade 7 students, under the guidance of their teacher, Lisa Pugh, organized and presented our school's Orange Shirt Day Assembly. They began the ceremony with a Territorial Acknowledgement that they had authored, then introduced a video of Phyllis Webstad describing the origins of Orange Shirt Day. This was followed by a "What Is Truth and Reconciliation" video which explained the reason for the day being observed across the country. The assembly concluded with a video of the Women's Warrior Song to honor survivors by Elder Martina Pierre of the Lil'Wat Nation. The grade 7 students drummed and sang along with the song, while all the students circled the perimeter of the gym and did the Friendship Dance.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/0f68ac3f-cfd6-5be8-b1f1-eace88b3f747?fingerprint=ppb20251217033715" alt="2af23u6h.jpg" width="623" height="267" style="width:623px;height:267px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p>
Primary Students Attend Healing For Our Children Traditional Pow Wow
Horse Lake Elementary
<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Tsq'escen First Nation at Canim Lake invited our grade one and two students to the Healing For Our Children Traditional Pow Wow to experience the event. Our students were fascinated with the dancing and the regalia, and then jumped at the opportunity to join the dancing. The Pow Wow featured one of our own students, Chloe Pellerin, in full regalia dancing with her classmates.</span></p><div data-lexical-layout-container="true" style="grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; display: grid;"><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/fed61400-66df-52ba-b111-0c55a1d3496c?fingerprint=ppb20251217040636" alt="quyw9gxk.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></div><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/070b41b4-8e94-5ce2-a333-62e5a7c7e397?fingerprint=ppb20251217033645" alt="8q4fjn8p.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></div></div><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p>