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RAISING THE TREATY 6 AND MÉTIS FLAGS

Mon, 11 Jun, 2018

On May 3, Edmonton Public Schools held a ceremony to celebrate the raising of the Treaty 6 and Métis flags outside of our central building. The ceremony recognized the history and culture of the land on which our schools stand and symbolizes the District's commitment to reconciliation and inclusion.

“We want warm, welcoming environments for all our students,” said Board Chair Michelle Draper. “It really is a special day today...to know that we’re a family. Our First Nations, Métis and Inuit students mean so much to us and this ceremony and action demonstrates that.”

CELEBRATING AS A COMMUNITY

The ceremony included an opening prayer by an elder, O Canada performed in Cree and remarks from Board Chair Draper, Superintendent Darrel Robertson, Enoch First Nation Chief Billy Morin and Audrey Poitras, President of the Métis Nation of Alberta. When the flags were raised outside, Blackstone singers performed the Treaty 6 Flag Song and Sarah Wolfe sang the Métis Anthem.

Poitras was honoured to see the flags raised at the Centre for Education.

“Once we were the forgotten people. Today, we are remembered with the raising of the Metis flag.”

In addition to the flags flying outside the Centre for Education, the Board of Trustees provided a Métis flag and Treaty 6 flag to each of the District’s 213 schools to display inside.