Altona’s Steps Toward Reconciliation (STR) group is hosting an Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada exercise designed to get people thinking about this land as viewed through the lens of its original inhabitants.
A giant floor map will be set up at the Millennium Exhibition Centre on Saturday, March 22 for a workshop that will run from 10 a.m. to noon, with an optional sharing circle to follow.
STR is borrowing the map from Border Land School Division, and educators Kerri Keffer and Mick Friesen will be coming along to lead participants through an interactive workshop that invites them to walk on the map as they learn about Canada before colonization.
“This is something new for us, but we are fortunate to have a partnership with Border Land School Division,” says STR’s Dorothy Braun. “They use the map for student education, so it’s on loan from them, and we really appreciate that because it gives us the chance to let members of the community experience this resource as well. And it’s quite a resource.”
The map shows the locations of Indigenous communities, residential schools, and historic and modern treaties. Rather than showing political borders, it breaks Canada up into Indigenous language groups.
“It gives you a picture of Canada, what became Canada and somewhat into the United States, going back and showing you the Indigenous map, pre-European,” Braun explains. “You wander around this map following the questions and guidelines from the facilitators.”
Topics range from Indigenous migration and trade routes to governance to the original names given to certain areas or landmarks.
“It kind of gives you a picture of what was here,” Braun says, noting the immersive nature of the exercise serves as a great educational tool. “It’s not just words, it’s experience.”
The workshops also discusses the process of colonization and its impacts on Indigenous people, where reserves were set up, Métis communities, and more.
“It’s a really neat way to learn about historical events,” Braun says, noting that Keffer, a teacher at Ross L. Gray School in Sprague, brings a Métis perspective to the exercise.
All are welcome to this free event, though space is limited. Participants will need to remove their footwear to walk on the map. To register,email stepsaltona@gmail.com.
This is just the first of two STR events this spring. The group is also planning a pow wow demonstration, also at the exhibition centre, on Saturday, May 3 at 10 a.m.
