Agassiz Christian School will be hosting a workshop designed to build bridges through understanding in their “Building bridges through understanding the village” workshop that will be led by Kathy Camilleri. Camilleri has extensive experience with healing programs in the Aboriginal community, bringing with her 20 years in the field, and a Masters Degree in Leadership Studies.
There are many people who desire hope and reconciliation with the Indigenous community, according to ACS principal, John Zuidhof, and hosting the workshop is part of bringing an awareness to the community, while educating on the importance of “exploring our role in supporting the revival of the values that worked so beautifully in Indigenous villages for thousands of years.
“We’ve had First Nations students at this school as long as I’ve been here and from what I understand, almost it’s entire 42 years of existence, so we’ve always tried to stay aware of issues around our first people’s,” said Zuidhof. “We thought it would be great for board members, committee members, parents, grandparents, and supporters of the school to engage in this kind of dialogue and workshop as well.”
The workshop is a joint venture with Unity Christian School. ACS partners with the school frequently as they send students there, once they hit Grade 8.
Zuidhof, maintains, that promoting the history of First Nations is essential to reconciliation and understanding as well as education.
“If we look at the history of Canada, it’s probably one of the greatest injustices that has ever been done, and it’s not been that long that the white majority has understood that. I think that continued growth and awareness of the damage done and the time it takes to reconcile to heal and just for the more typical population of Canada to hear from a First Nations presenter, their story, is important” Zuidhof told The Observer.
Camilleri will be talking about First Nations history and how the sense of community they had was thrown into upheaval with the coming of the Europeans.
The workshop is scheduled on Thursday Mar. 30 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in the school gym.
Everyone is welcome to attend this free workshop which is geared toward solutions and presented from a non-blame and non-shame perspective, inviting all participants to become a part of the healing that is already happening.
Free tickets can be obtained from Agassiz Christian School (Currently closed for Spring Break – opening March 27.) Tickets can also be reserved at office@agassizchristian.com.