In the wake of Steven Harper's apology to First Nations people for the scarring residential schools experiences, the Howe School Sound District Parents Advisory Committee (DPAC) and the Lil'wat Nation are taking a large step towards building stronger relationships among aboriginal and non-aboriginal families.DPAC is inviting all parents of the Sea to Sky Corridor to an inspiring presentation next Friday (Sept. 12) at 5 p.m. Xit'olacw School.Reverend Dr. Martin Brokenleg, Director of Native Ministries and professor of First Nations theology at the Vancouver School of Theology, will present on the topic "Families: Circles of Courage." He will discuss the issue of alienation that many aboriginal children currently experience as the direct result of a loss of "tribal and village roots." His presentation will also offer concrete strategies for parents to help raise caring, respectful and responsible children, said Cathy Jewett, DPAC chair.Jewett says she's excited about what Brokenleg's presentation could do for the Sea to Sky community."[Brokenleg] will help us bridge the culture between the aboriginal and the non-aboriginal. He has a message for everybody and yet he has a deeper understanding than many of us non-aboriginal do, of the challenges that face aboriginal families and children."He is someone that will bridge the relationship between aboriginal and non-aboriginal parents that night."The evening will feature a complimentary dinner of bannock, salmon, potatoes, and corn followed by Brokenleg's presentation.Jewett said she's like to see everyone in the Sea to Sky community attend Brokenleg's presentation. "It's not just a First Nations topic," she said, "It's a topic for everybody."If your community is strong, caring and honest, those are the things you're going to produce. That's what we want for all of our children. Nobody wants their kids to end up not succeeding - they want to set them off on the right road, and that's families and communities."Jewett also hopes that the presentation will spark parental involvement with the schools in the district."Ultimately our goal at DPAC is to have parent involvement and help parents with their knowledge about [both] the education system and about helping their students so that the end result is improved student achievement - and that's for all students," she said.Jewett said organizers are expecting approximately 200 attendees. Parents who live outside of the Pemberton Valley and plan to attend the dinner and presentation should RSVP with Jewett at [email protected].
