Friday, March 8, 2013

We Stand Together Fact #10


Hi Sheena,
 
It's been a great two weeks of learning and discussion! Thanks for joining us in the We Stand Together campaign, and don't forget to create and your own "11th Daily Fact." Watch out for an email next week with a link to share your facts, stories and feedback with us.
 
Here is Daily Fact #10:
 
A stained glass window on Parliament Hill, Giniigaaniimenaaning, or “Looking Ahead,” commemorates Canada’s hope for a shared future after the Residential School Apology.

Share this fact to educate others, then join the discussion on Facebook or on Twitter (@FreeTheChildren and @MAboriginalEdu) using #westandtogether. At the end of the campaign, create your own Daily Fact and share it with Free The Children and MAEI here.
Remember, there are also issues backgrounders, lesson plans and other great resources on the We Stand Together Resources webpage!


In 2008, Prime Minister Stephen Harper made a historic speech to all Aboriginal Peoples of Canada. On behalf of the Canadian government, he apologized for the Indian Residential Schools system. Many Aboriginal Canadians, including former students of residential schools, were in Parliament for the apology. Aboriginal leaders present at the event accepted the Prime Minister’s apology.

To commemorate this historic event, the federal government asked renowned Métis artist Christi Belcourt to design a stained glass window. Christi designed a window that tells the story of Aboriginal Peoples before, during and after the Residential School System. She explained, “The story begins in the bottom left corner of the glass, with your eye moving upwards in the left panel to the top window, and flowing down the right window to the bottom right corner. The glass design tells a story.” She called her art Giniigaaniimenaaning, which means “looking ahead” in Ojibway. Her hope is that all the people of Canada can work together now to make a brighter future.

The government installed the special stained glass artwork in Centre Block on Parliament Hill in October 2012. Now everyone who visits Parliament Hill will see the story in the window and remember the students and families impacted by residential schools.

For more information, check out:

http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1339417945383/1339418457202
http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1100100015644/1100100015649
http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1332859355145/1332859433503



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