Students Take Virtual Tour of Former Residential School
On Wednesday, November 24th, all Grade 10 History students took part in a collective guided virtual tour run by the Woodland Cultural Centre in Brantford, Ont. The centre is a museum and indigenous education site that operates in the building formerly known as the Mohawk Institute Residential School. The residential school was Canada’s oldest and longest running residential school institution, operating from 1831-1970.
The virtual tour video was created with local production company, Thru the RedDoor, and follows Lorrie Gallant as she gives a tour of the former Mohawk Institute Indian Residential School. Gallant is a writer, artist and educational program coordinator at the Woodland Centre. During the video, Lorrie provides the history of the institution over its 140 year history. Viewers will get to see the different rooms in the school, from the girls’ and boys’ dormitories, to the cafeteria, laundry room, and other rooms throughout the building, as well as hear interviews from five Survivors of the Mohawk Institute.
While there were some generally known experiences and practices from the residential schools that the tour confirmed, there were many more that were revealed. Many were shocking. The school had a guide, Faye Johnson, who did a remarkable job answering questions about the residential schools and about reconciliation. When the students had a chance to debrief when they returned to class, they were full of questions and comments. They realized that the process to understand and to begin to help with the healing is a long and challenging one.
In an email, student Brooke Wappel, said it this way: “It was very informative and I learned so much. A lot of what we learned I did not know before and am grateful to be better informed of what happened.”
Land Acknowledgment
The Country Day School wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. Our nearest Indigenous Nations are now the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Chippewas of Georgina Island. The Dish with One Spoon Wampum covenant is often cited as an example of the shared responsibility for caring for these lands among the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples who would call these their traditional territories. CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection to this land can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for the land and waters for future generations.
School Information
13415 Dufferin Street King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
