In our first BC First Peoples project, called Truth BEFORE Reconciliation, I learned a lot more than I expected to. This project really opened my eyes to what actually happened in residential schools and how it still affects people today. To complete this project we had to first go through many different benchmarks that helped us answer the driving question:
“Why does this course matter?”
Launch Reflection: The first thing we did was watch the 60 Minutes Residential School Video. Even just those few clips that we watched really had a big impact on my views on the topic. I learned a lot of information that helped me answer the driving question and overall helped me write my final response. I used many quotes and examples from this video. Hearing survivors talk about their experiences made me feel a mix of sadness, anger, and disbelief. I’d learned about residential schools before, but this time was different because it felt more real. You could hear the pain in their voices, and it made me realize how much of this history has been ignored. I also realized that this sad event was not that far in the past, it was actually quite recent. This video overall hooked me into the project and left me wanting to learn more.
My 60 Minutes Residential School video Reflection
Venn Diagram: We also learned about Two-Eyed Seeing, which means looking at things from both Indigenous and Western perspectives. Making a Venn diagram helped me really understand how important it is to see both sides. It gave me a new way of thinking about history and how learning more than one perspective can have so many advantages.
Semantic Map: One of my favourite parts of this project was making a semantic map. I’m a visual learner, so mapping everything out helped me actually understand the impacts of residential schools better. It made the learning more personal, and I felt proud of what I made.
Final Response: As we kept going, we did reflections and writing pieces that made me really reflect think about what I’d learned.
My Reflective Writing Response
How has this learning made you feel?
The survivor stories were what impacted me the most. Hearing these stories made me feel sad and angry. I was so in shock from the many things that I have only just learned about. I felt sorry that I couldn’t do anything about it. I was not alive when residential schools in Canada were still running but I wish I could do something to advocate or help shut them down.
How has this project changed the way you see history, or your role in reconciliation?
This learning has changed how I see Canada’s history and my role in reconciliation. Reconciliation isn’t just about saying sorry. It’s about listening, caring, learning, and making sure these stories are never forgotten. This is something that I never fully understand it before this project. I want to be someone who shares what I’ve learned and helps others understand the truth too.
That’s why this course matters to me. Truth BEFORE Reconciliation taught me that you actually need to care and want to listen to the stories of survivors. We need to create safe spaces for them to share their stories in order for us to learn. This is the first step in order to create real change. It is important to recognize the past and the mistakes we’ve made. It showed me the importance of seeing different perspectives and understanding the real impact of residential schools. It’s changed the way I think, and it’s something I’ll carry with me.