For over a century, residential schools inflicted lasting harm on Indigenous peoples in Canada, tearing families apart and attempting to erase cultures. This dark chapter left deep scars that continue to affect survivors and their communities today. Beginning in the 1980s, survivors and advocates pushed for justice, leading to monumental steps like government apologies, compensation programs, and support for healing. These actions, though significant, are only part of the broader journey toward reconciliation and healing.

In the 1940s and 1950s, government researchers used malnourished children in residential schools to study the effects of starvation. These children were deliberately denied adequate food and essential vitamins while their health was monitored. This unethical experimentation highlights the systemic disregard for Indigenous lives and the long-lasting trauma inflicted on survivors.

Residential schools were government-funded, church-operated institutions established in the late 19th century to forcibly assimilate Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian culture. Children were removed from their families, forbidden from speaking their languages, and subjected to physical, emotional, and often sexual abuse. Thousands died due to neglect, malnutrition, or mistreatment, and the schools left lasting intergenerational trauma within Indigenous communities.

This history matters because the impacts of residential schools are not just in the past—they continue to shape the lives of Indigenous peoples today. Acknowledging this dark legacy is crucial for healing, rebuilding trust, and fostering reconciliation. Addressing these injustices helps create a more equitable society where the voices and rights of Indigenous peoples are respected and upheld.

Seeking Justice: 1980s Former Students Demand Action

In the 1980s, former students began advocating for recognition and compensation from the government and churches for past abuses they endured in institutions like residential schools. These students demanded accountability for the harm caused and worked to ensure their stories were heard and addressed. Their efforts laid the groundwork for broader awareness and justice initiatives.

Key Points:

• Former students called for acknowledgment of institutional abuse.

• Demands included compensation and formal apologies.

• Advocacy efforts shaped future reparative justice policies.

Steps Toward Healing: 1998 Statement of Reconciliation

In 1998, the Canadian government issued a Statement of Reconciliation, formally acknowledging the harm caused by residential schools and other policies. Alongside this, it established the Aboriginal Healing Foundation to support Indigenous communities in their healing journeys. These initiatives marked significant steps toward addressing historical injustices and fostering reconciliation.

Key Points:

• The government admitted past wrongs in the Statement of Reconciliation.

• The Aboriginal Healing Foundation was created to fund community-led healing programs.

• These efforts aimed to repair trust and support Indigenous well-being.

Addressing Harm: 2003 Alternative Dispute Resolution

In 2003, the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process was introduced to address the legacy of residential schools. This system provided a structured way to determine compensation for survivors and offered psychological support to aid in their recovery. The ADR aimed to deliver justice while avoiding lengthy court battles, prioritizing survivor well-being.

Key Points:

• ADR provided a streamlined process for survivors to seek compensation.

• Psychological support services were included to assist in healing.

• It emphasized resolving claims efficiently and respectfully.

Historic Agreement: 2007 IRSSA Approved

In 2007, the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) was approved, allocating $1.9 billion for survivor compensation. This landmark agreement was the largest class-action settlement in Canadian history and provided financial reparations to those who endured abuse in residential schools. The IRSSA also supported healing, truth-telling, and reconciliation efforts.

Key Points:

• $1.9 billion was allocated for survivor compensation.

• It marked the largest class-action settlement in Canadian history.

• The agreement included funding for reconciliation and healing initiatives.

From the 1980s to 2007, significant steps were taken to address the harms of residential schools. Former students began advocating for recognition and compensation, leading to the 1998 Statement of Reconciliation and the creation of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation. In 2003, the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process provided survivors with compensation and psychological support. This progress culminated in the 2007 approval of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA), which allocated $1.9 billion for survivor reparations—the largest settlement in Canadian history.

The journey toward healing is ongoing, and reconciliation requires everyone’s participation. Educate yourself about the history of residential schools and their lasting impact. Support organizations dedicated to Indigenous healing and justice, and amplify the voices of survivors. Together, we can build a future grounded in understanding, respect, and accountability.

For multiple generations (almost 80 years and counting) the planet has been in a state of constant “Cold War” between the US and Russia (Formerly the USSR) with Canada caught in the crossfires. Our country has been telling these war mongering giants to chill for almost 80 years!

I cannot help but feel worried with all the news coming out in the last 2 years about Russia. If you do to, give this blog a read, you may just learn a new strategy to help you cope.

 

3 Generations of Childhood Nightmares

If I had a nickel for every time my family’s children had nightmares about nuclear annihilation brought on by tension-inducing events by the countries directly north and south of us, I would have three nickels. which is not a lot, but it is weird thats it has happened that many times.

• Cuban Missile Crisis

When my Grandad was only 19, the Soviet Union had nuclear missiles stationed in Cuba. as you can imagine, this caused intense panic (Especially when emergency communications with the Soviet Union from the US repeatedly failed). I can only image the pure fear he was in.

• Cold war cartoons

When my mom was growing up in the 1980s, Cartoons were on the air teaching kids how to “duck and cover” in case of nuclear strikes. She dreamt about Russians invading Vancouver through Alaska All. The. Time. Movies aimed at teens back then like Red Dawn, War Games, etc. glorified war and gave her nightmares!

• Russo-Ukrainian War

The USSR may no longer exist, but that does not mean that Russia is any less of a threat. In February 2022, The Russian Army invaded Ukraine, and the Russo-Ukrainian War escalated to international news! I remember feeling bad for the Ukrainian people and hating Putin with a burning passion. I feel the tension now that I know about the utter supervillain Russia is refusing to follow the rules of nuclear weapons

 

The Cold War never ended, it just evolved. Russia is still as big a threat as the USSR was, the Russo-Ukrainian War and Israeli–Palestinian conflict are just proxy wars in the 21st century, and the nightmares continue, even 79 years later. I wonder what nightmares the next generation will have…

Talk to your family members about their experiences, I know it helped me by learning what my Parents and Grandparents went through. It is normal to be scared.

 

On Saturday the 6th, my group presented our Destination Imagination (DI) project. The people in my group were: Lucas, Aidan, Daniel, Sebastian and Susan. Our project revolved around the topic of architectural engineering. The machine we designed was a catapult used to launch bean bags, our goal was to launch our bean bag the farthest.

In order to measure the distance the bean bag travelled, we used the board by the DI organizers, it had strips of velcro on it to prevent the bean bag from sliding to the finish.

My role in the group was ‘Designer’, I had to draw up plans for the props we would use. On the day of DI, we attempted to launch our bean bag, but the catapult fell apart! We were unable to repair it because the thing had literally fallen to pieces. Even though the catapult failed, we continued on with our performance. During the performance, I was a background character (specifically the Bartender) I wiped down my table prop as my group mates were performing. After the performance, the parents who were watching in the audience (including my mom and stepdad) clapped. My mom was proud of me even though I wasn’t.

What went well?

My final presentation on the 14th went phenomenally well, I stood tall, looked at the audience/speaker directly and spoke with my full chest (I didn’t even need to use my script cards!)

What did not?

Throughout the entire lead-up to presentation night, I was wide awake anxious

How can I improve?

I probably should have practiced a whole lot more

How did you contribute?

I did exactly what my group instructed, no more, no less

How did the field study help you learn?

Our trip to Seattle helped me gain the groundwork for our PeckaKucha

group members

Ronan

Charlie M

Francis (Me)

I’m working on a project in humanities called “Cray Cray Yay Yay 🤪” the driving question is: “Why does it take a crazy person to change the world?”. Heres my answer to that question

The reason it takes a crazy person to change the world is that only a crazy person would ever be so bold enough to come up with revolutionary concepts. One of the most popular being Science Fiction (Sci-Fi)

The idea of Sci-fi, writing a story about somewhere that is so far from our reality, is pretty crazy, you get to make the rules, and you get to choose the tech, and it’s literally like playing god. The reason this changes the world is simple, sci-fi is pretty damn popular. You have the greats like the Terminator, Star Wars, Back to the Future, and Ghost Busters! all very popular and influential franchises, and are still around to this day! But the future doesn’t need to be hidden behind a screen 

The space needle is what put Seattle on the map, the reason it’s so crazy is that the engineers and construction teams of Seattle proved to the world that, when you put your mind to it, you can bring a city into the next century, this changes the world because it demonstrates that, even in the ’60s, the future is just one innovation away. But the future isn’t just restrained to tech and infrastructure.

The Climate Pledge Arena is an almost 100% carbon-neutral arena and the home of the Seattle Kraken and Storm, this changes the world because it proves how we can surely end global warming by the end of 2050. But they’re not the only ones making the world a better place

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is a museum to educate about women’s inequality and what the Gates have done to help impoverished areas of the world, this changes the world because it’s almost unheard of for a wealthy man to use his wealth to help others. But if there is one thing that screams wealthy business, it’s planes.

The Museum of Flight is the first thing you see when you land at King County International Airport, it has many planes on display, from the earliest hot air balloons to the most advanced fighter jets! In the 1900s, the idea of flight was speculated to only be possible in a millennium… then the Wright brothers flew just 8 months later! this changes the world because planes are used to transport both freight and passengers, without planes, Amazon might not exist!

My overall point here can be summarized in a single sentence: “The human imagination, is wild”. And when you put the imagination to work, the things you can do the ways you can change the status quo, are numerous!

Why is this question important? Because it’s asking what kind of person (Kind, Rude, etc.) you want to be in the future.

In the bitter cold of January 13, 1982, Washington, D.C. found itself gripped by tragedy as Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into the icy Potomac River during takeoff. Amidst the chaos and despair, Lenny Skutnik emerged as an unexpected hero.

As the stricken plane sank into the frigid waters, Skutnik, a bystander, witnessed the horror unfold. Ignoring the biting cold and potential danger, he leaped into action. The freezing river welcomed him, but his only focus was on rescuing those in need.

Spotting Priscilla Tirado, a survivor struggling against the current, Skutnik swam determinedly towards her. With unwavering resolve, he managed to reach her side and pull her to safety. His act of courage stood out amidst the tragedy, a beacon of hope amid the icy waters.

The nation took notice of Skutnik’s selflessness, and his heroism became a symbol of ordinary citizens rising to the occasion. President Reagan acknowledged Skutnik’s bravery during the State of the Union address, inviting him as a guest of honour. The spotlight shone on this unassuming hero, emphasizing the resilience and courage that can emerge from the depths of ordinary individuals in times of crisis.

Lenny’s actions, as I described, exemplify the qualities I aspire to. His lack of hesitation, disregard for personal concerns, and immediate response to someone in danger highlight true kindness and bravery. It’s stories like these that inspire me and reinforce the importance of helping others selflessly.

I aspire to be a kind and brave person, always ready to help without hesitation in times of danger, which is a commendable goal. It reflects a strong sense of empathy and courage.

Despite facing numerous setbacks and encountering frequent delays throughout the course of this project, I persevered. The journey was marked by moments of stagnation, but I ultimately succeeded in bringing the project to completion, even though it required a certain degree of rule-stretching to meet the deadline. This experience taught me valuable lessons in resilience, adaptability, and the importance of navigating challenges to achieve my goals.

 “Success isn’t about how much money you make. It’s about the difference you make in people’s lives.” – Machell Obama

Although my novel note-taking progressed at a slow pace, I found myself completing the last 10 chapters at the eleventh hour. Similarly, I delayed my interview until the final moments. Despite these time constraints, I managed to meet the deadlines, showcasing my ability to work efficiently under pressure.

Prioritizing happiness is a significant perspective, as it is the foundation of a fulfilling life. Without happiness, one risks a state of stagnation, both figuratively and, to some extent, literally. It underscores the importance of well-being and contentment in the overall quality of life.

Numerous factors influence the person I aspire to become. Among these inspirations are specific incidents, including but not limited to:

• The Federal Express Runaway
• The Crazy Eights Incident
• The Gimli Glider
• The Nepisiguit Runaway

I aspire for my future self to embody traits characterized by happiness, positivity, and heroism. This vision reflects a commitment to personal growth and a positive impact on the world.

It a game about how the CPR connected Canada, need I say more?

…

Okay in case you’re new here, here’s some more information.

The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) is essential to Canadian nationalism because it has played a major role in the expansion of Canada, the promotion of tourism, immigration as well as the country’s efforts during both world wars. The CPR transported goods from coast to coast and back again, it would also transport immigrants to ether the prairies or BC. This was very important for the success of Canada. Case in point, British Columbia. Before BC was apart of Canada, it was in the middle of intense staring contest between British North America (BNA, aka Canada) and Oregon, in the end BC agreed to join Canada IF a trans continental railway was built, and so it was. 

When I started this project, I was a bit of a pain about it. (I have severe aichmophobia) However when I convinced Ms. Pitches of letting me make a digital T&F OC, I was ecstatic! In the end I ended up choosing a LSWR 0298 as the base and Stacy as the name. Originally she was painted in Red with Gold Lining, however I decided that the story would take place when she first arrived on Sodor so I went with LSWR royal mint green. Her personality was decided after a discussion at dinner with my mom, who suggested a rather stuck-up personality. When I started writing, I only had the first story in mind, I made up the rest as I went along. The trailer was much of the same. Am I proud of this project? Yup 👍. I learned that teachers can be flexible and if i have a good plan and negotiate with them, they might let me do it my way. I covered all of the expectations. (except for the sewing part)

During this project, I learned that electricity is far more confusing than I thought. Despite that, I had a lot of fun during this project. The reason I went for more Industrial feel is because I love trains